DOES UMBILICAL VEIN CATHETERIZATION TO EXCHANGE-TRANSFUSION LEAD TO PORTAL-VEIN THROMBOSIS

The aetiopathology of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction is unknown. In retrospective studies, umbilical vein cannulation and sepsis have been alleged to cause portal thrombosis. This prospective study was un dertaken to detect whether thrombosis and consequent obstruction of th e splenoportal venous system develops after umbilical vein catheteriza tion for exchange transfusion in newborns using Doppler ultrasound. Fo rty children (M = 24; F = 16) who had undergone exchange transfusion f or hyperbilirubinaemia were studied at school age. Maximal duration of the venous umbilical cannulation was 120 min and sepsis did not occur . Clinical, biological and sonographic examinations were normal, excep t in 3 children. In 2 the left branch of portal vein could not be iden tified (normal variant). Conclusion Our results show that, in these ch ildren, umbilical vein catheterization did not lead to development of portal vein thrombosis. However, when other risk factors such as umbil ical infection, traumatic catheterization are associated. children sho uld be screened for obstruction of the portal vein.