Central venous catheters in surgical neonates

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in neonates, but have significant complication rates. Over a 4-year period, 65 lines were inserted in 55 surgical neonates with a total of 877 catheter days. The mean length of insertion was 13.5 days, with a range of 1 to 35 days. Eighty percent of the surgical diagnoses were of necrotising enterocolitis, diaphragmatic hernia, or gastroschisis. Insertion was almost exclusively via the internal jugular vein. Only two Broviac catheters were used, the other catheters were noncuffed. Fourteen (22%) were inserted in the neonatal unit, with a similar complication rate to those inserted in the surgical theater. Overall, complications occurred with 22 lines (34%), seven of which (11%) were primary catheter sepsis (infection incidence, 1:125 days). One patient died as a result of catheter sepsis. Although the complication rate was similar, the complication incidence per day of catheter usage was higher than comparable reports. It is not clear if this was due to the pathological conditions of the surgical neonate, surgical or nursing technique, or the type of catheter used.