Umbilical arterial catheters are often placed at birth in critical ill neonates. Advantages of umbilical arterial catheterization include continuous blood pressure monitoring, accurate blood gas and frequent blood samplings.
The authors described the off-label use of a third generation polyurethane power injectable 3Fr single lumen peripheral inserted central catheter as umbilical arterial catheter. This clinical case series opens new scenarios about the off-label use of power PICC in newborns. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the safety and advantages of PICCs as umbilical catheters over the conventional old generation polyurethane neonatal catheters.
Authors : Barone Giovanni , Natile Miria and Ancora Gina , Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ospedale Infermi, AUSL Romagna, Rimini, Italy
Corresponding author: Barone Giovanni, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, TIN Ospedale Infermi, AUSL Romagna, Via Settembrini 2, Rimini 47923, Italy. Email: gbarone85@yahoo.it
The Journal of Vascular Access
