SELDINGER TECHNIQUE AS AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR PERCUTANEOUS INSERTION OF HYDROPHILIC POLYURETHANE CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS IN NEWBORNS

The use of hydrophilic central venous catheters, percutaneously insert ed by means of the Seldinger technique, was evaluated in this prospect ive study. Between 1988 and 1991, 138 catheters were inserted in newbo rns who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit. An adequate position of the tip, evaluated radiographically, was achieved in 130 (94.2%) of these insertions. The side effects associated with these 13 0 catheters and the duration of their use were recorded. Results were compared with those of percutaneously inserted Silastic catheters desc ribed in the Literature. The rate of adequate catheter placement seems comparable. Because of a high rate of minor mechanical complications, the mean catheter duration was rather short (8.3 days). However, the incidence of serious complications, especially infectious complication s, was low.