ABSTRACT
A retrospective case review was conducted of 3 cases with umbilical venous catheterization(UVC) related pericardial effusions in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from December 2020 to April 2022.All 3 cases were preterm infants with gestational ages of 33 + 4, 31 and 27 + 6 weeks, respectively.UVC was inserted routinely in 24 hours after birth.Three neonates developed tachycardia or bradycardia, dyspnea, decreased oxygen saturation and muffled heart sound at the 1 st to 4 th day after catheterization.Echocardiography indicated pericardial effusion, so the 3 neonates underwent pericardiocentesis and drainage.Among the 3 neonates, 2 cases improved and have good prognosis, 1 case died.UVC can cause pericardial effusion, which occurs mostly in the early stage after catheterization.Pericardial effusion and tamponade should be considered when patients show unexplained sudden clinical deterioration after catheterization, such as dyspnea, cyanosis, tachycardia or bradycardia, etc.Once diagnosed, umbilical vein catheter should be removed in time and pericardiocentesis and drainage should be performed for decompression.Early diagnosis and intervention can effectively improve the prognosis.