Central venous catheter tip in the right atrium: a risk factor for neonatal cardiac tamponade.
J Perinatol
; 21(7): 461-4, 2001.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11894516
ABSTRACT
Fatal cardiac tamponade is a well recognised complication of the use of central venous catheters in neonatal patients. There is controversy over optimum catheter tip position to balance catheter performance against risk of adverse events. We report a series of five cases of tamponade occurring in one neonatal unit over a 4-year period, related to catheter tip placement in the right atrium. Right atrial catheter angulation, curvature or looping (CA) was present in all five cases on plain radiograph. It was frequently seen in other patients over the same period. Review of the literature indicates that CA was present in 6 of the 11 previous cases where the presence or absence of CA can be determined. Where right atrial catheter tip placement is accepted, clinicians should be aware of this characteristic catheter configuration, which is a major risk factor for cardiac tamponade. We recommend that catheter tips should not be placed in the right atrium to avoid risk of tamponade.
Search on Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Catheterization, Central Venous
/
Cardiac Tamponade
/
Catheters, Indwelling
/
Heart Atria
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
/
Newborn
Language:
En
Journal:
J Perinatol
Journal subject:
PERINATOLOGIA
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom