Central venous catheters in surgical neonates

The association of perinatal and clinical factors with outcomes in infants with gastroschisis-a retrospective multicenter study in Finland

The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic factors for the outcome of gastroschisis in Finland. A retrospective multicenter study of gastroschisis patients born between 1993 and 2015 in four Finnish university hospitals was undertaken, collecting perinatal, surgical, and clinical data of neonates for uni- and multifactorial modeling analysis. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for mortality and the composite adverse outcome (death and/or short bowel syndrome or hospital stay > 60 days). Of the 154 infants with gastroschisis, the overall survival rate was 90.9%. In Cox regression analysis, independent risk factors for mortality included liver herniation, pulmonary hypoplasia, relaparotomy for perforation or necrosis, abdominal compartment syndrome, and central line sepsis. Furthermore, a logistic regression analysis identified central line sepsis, abdominal compartment syndrome, complex gastroschisis, and a younger gestational age as independent predictors of the composite adverse outcome.Conclusion: The risk of death is increased in newborns with gastroschisis who have liver herniation, pulmonary hypoplasia, abdominal compartment syndrome, relaparotomy for perforation or necrosis, or central line-associated sepsis. Special care should be taken to minimize the risk of central line sepsis in the clinical setting. What is known: • Gastroschisis is a relatively rare congenital anomaly of the abdominal wall and its incidence is increasing. • Complex gastroschisis has been reported to increase risk of mortality and complications. What is new: • Central line sepsis was found to be independently associated with mortality in gastroschisis patients. • Liver herniation was also significantly associated with mortality.

Major thrombotic complications with lower limb PICCs in surgical neonates

BACKGROUND

PICC lines are now used routinely to provide central access for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Neonates are known to be at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) related to central catheters. No literature exists about VTE PICC-related morbidity in the NICU abdominal surgery subgroup.

METHODS

With REB approval, a retrospective review of a NICU database of PICC insertions performed at a tertiary children's hospital was conducted (January 2010-June 2013). Information about PICCs and complications was recorded. For patients with a major thrombotic complication, charts were reviewed. A major thrombotic complication was defined as a thrombosis which required medical and/or surgical intervention.

RESULTS

692 PICCs were inserted (485 in the upper extremity, 142 in the lower extremity, and 65 in the scalp). Seventy-four patients had significant intraabdominal pathology, and 5 had a major thrombotic complication. All patients with a major thrombotic complication had a lower extremity PICC which was at or below L1 (L1-S1) running parenteral nutrition.

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, only neonates with abdominal pathology and a lower extremity insertion site suffered major thrombotic complications from PICC lines. Given all patients' PICC tips were below the recommended location, more rigorous surveillance (with repositioning if required) may avoid these complications for future patients.

Internal jugular vein deformities after central venous catheterisation in neonates: evaluation by Doppler ultrasound

AIM

The use of a central venous catheter (CVC) through the internal jugular vein (IJV) in neonates is associated with various complications. We postulated that the risk of vein deformity after removing the CVC is underestimated. This study aimed to evaluate, using Doppler ultrasound, morphological changes in the IJV that had undergone CVC insertion during the neonatal period.

METHODS

The study consisted of 23 cases, in which 2.7 Fr Broviac (Bard Access Systems, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) CVCs were inserted through the IJVs of newborns over a 2-year period. After the removal of the CVCs, the IJVs were examined by Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

Seventeen cases had normal appearances, but six (26%) cases had deformities. One case had a completely obstructed IJV, and five had abnormal compressibility, echogenic intravascular masses or monophasic waveforms of blood flow. On follow-up, IJV deformities were not improved but tended to be aggravated. There were significant differences in gestational age (36.6 +/- 3.2 weeks vs. 30.0 +/- 3.9 weeks, P= 0.002), body weight at time of CVC insertion (2.60 +/- 0.72 kg vs. 1.32 +/- 0.47 kg, P= 0.001) and duration of catheter use (25.9 +/- 13.6 days vs. 49.0 +/- 22.0 days, P= 0.016) between the normal and deformity groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

IJV deformities after central venous catheterisation in neonates are common. A lower gestational age, a lower body weight, and more catheter indwelling days are significant factors affecting the incidence of IJV deformities.

Infections in gastroschisis: organisms and factors

This study aimed to define the incidence, causative organisms and predisposing factors leading to infection related morbidity in newborns with gastroschisis. All gastroschisis patients admitted over the 5-year period (1999-2004) were retrospectively reviewed. Surveillance samples, wound, blood, urine and fecal cultures were analyzed. Duration of total parenteral nutrition, antibiotic therapy, feeding regimes and demographic data were also analyzed. Multiple logistic regression was employed using the SPSS system and p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Seventy-two neonates were identified with 53% having abnormal gut carriage mostly due to Enterobacter and Klebsiella. Wound infection occurred in 20% of cases. Abnormal gut carriage predisposed to the development of wound infection. Line sepsis occurred in 21% of neonates. Endogenous coagulase negative Staphylococcus caused 74% of septic episodes. There was no correlation between abnormal gut carriage and the development of line sepsis. Overall survival was 96%. The cause of infections in gastroschisis patients appears to be multifactorial. A multidisciplinary team can play an important role in reducing the incidence of infections. Strict aseptic protocols and auditing practice can be the invaluable tools in decreasing morbidity rates.

Neonatal vascular catheters and their complications

There has been an evolution in vascular access in the neonate. Newer types of materials and catheters, such as PICC lines and ECMO catheters, are now available. The frequency of line placement has increased, and radiologists now perform many of these procedures. This places the radiologist in the position of not only diagnosing complications, but actually causing them. Knowledge of these complications can help the practitioner avoid them and diagnose them as quickly as possible when they occur.

Improved percutaneous insertion of long-term central venous catheters in children: the 'shrug' manoeuvre

BACKGROUND

Surgical central venous access in children usually requires open exposure of the internal jugular vein or one of its tributaries. The percutaneous route has the potential advantages of a reduced rate of wound infection, superior cosmesis and reduced operating time. We report our modifications to the percutaneous approach that facilitate the application of this technique to children over the age of 12 months.

METHODS

The dilator and peel-away sheath of the introducer set should be inserted into the subclavian vein under fluoroscopic control. Elevation of the ipsilateral shoulder assists passage of the peel-away sheath and subsequently the catheter from the subclavian vein into the superior vena cava.

RESULTS

This technique has been used successfully to establish surgical central venous access in the majority of children at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, over a 3-year period.

CONCLUSIONS

With the modifications described this technique may be safely applied to the paediatric age group.

Nosocomial sepsis in neonates with single lumen vascular catheters

Catheter-related sepsis is commonly encountered in the neonatal intensive care unit. We retrospectively studied infants with vascular catheters at 2 NICUs. Data were obtained from the computerised admission records available at both the hospitals. Our aims were to describe the clinical and microbial profile of nosocomial sepsis in infants with vascular catheters [umbilical artery (UA), umbilical venous (UV), central venous Broviac (CV), percutaneously placed central venous (PC), peripheral artery (PA)], and to determine the association between catheter type, duration and sepsis in a subset of the population. Nosocomial sepsis (positive blood culture after the 3rd postnatal day) occurred in 217 of 2091 (10.4%) infants. Infected infants, in contrast to non-infected, had a significantly (P < 0.001) greater number of multiple catheters (2.3 vs 1.4) had lower birth weights (1.2 vs 2.1 kg), were younger (28 vs 33 weeks) and had lower 1 and 5 minute Apgar scores (4.3 and 6.7 vs 5.5 and 7.4). The most common organism was coagulase negative Staphylococcus. In a subset population as analyses revealed, longer duration of UA use was associated with higher infection rates [13.6% with UA use for > or = 8 days vs 1.3% for < or = 7 days (P < 0.0001)]. PC use had a lower rate of sepsis than CV use (5.1% vs 15.2%; P < 0.05). Use of intravascular catheters should be balanced between the need for vascular access and the risk of sepsis.

Femoral vascular catheterization in critically ill infants and children

The success rate and complications from femoral arterial and venous catheterization in infants and children in a university affiliate pediatric intensive care unit were determined prospectively over a 2-year period. We also performed a meta-analysis from published literature to determine the combined estimates of noninfectious and infectious complications (with 95% confidence limits) using the inverse variance-weighted method. Success rates were 94.5% and 94.4% for femoral arterial (n=110) and venous (n=89) catheterizations, respectively, and were related to operator expertise, age, and hemodynamic status. Median age was 2.4 years and 1.1 year for arterial and venous catheterizations, respectively. Immediate complications were hematoma (10.9% arterial, 16.8% venous) and minor bleeding (13.6% arterial, 13.5% venous). Decreased pulses occurred with 7.7% of arterial catheterizations, and lower limb swelling occurred in 9.5% of venous catheterizations. Vascular complications occurred only in infants and resolved within 7-14 days. Catheter-related infections occurred in 1.9% of arterial and 3.6% of venous catheterizations. The mean duration of catheterization was 5.3 days and 6.3 days with femoral arterial and venous catheterizations, respectively. Meta-analysis of published studies shows that the estimates for noninfectious complications were 5.0%, 10.1%, 1.1%, and 1.8% for femoral arterial, femoral venous, axillary arterial, and nonfemoral venous catheters, respectively. The estimates for catheter-related infection were 2.5%, 3.7%, and 3.0% for femoral arterial, femoral venous, and nonfemoral venous catheters, respectively. The meta-analytic estimates for complication rates from published literature are not significantly different from the rates observed in our study. Femoral arterial and venous catheterization in infants and children are safe with an expected high success rate and acceptably low complication rates.

A surgical technique that allows reuse of an existing venotomy site for multiple central venous catheterizations

During long-term use, central venous catheters are damaged or inadvertently displaced, and replacement is required. The authors developed a technique that allows multiple recatheterizations through an existing venotomy site. The technique is very advantageous for patients who need long-term central venous access.

A posterior tunnel for the jugular venous catheter in newborns

A modified technique of tunnelling for jugular venous catheters in the newborn is described. The technique eliminates cannula-kinking and offers a more convenient position for the catheter.

Broviac central venous catheters inserted via the saphenous or femoral vein in the NICU under local anesthesia

We present our experience with 92 Broviac central venous catheters inserted into 84 infants over a 31-month period. Our technique specifies placement in the neonatal intensive care unit under local anesthesia, with insertion to the inferior vena caval-atrial junction via the saphenous or femoral vein, with a subcutaneous tunnel to an exist site on the anterior thigh. We conclude this technique to be safe, efficient, convenient, cost-effective, and minimally uncomfortable to the infant, with no increase in morbidity or mortality in comparison to previously described methods.

Incidence of thrombosis during central venous catheterization of newborns: a prospective study

Forty-two newborns were studied prospectively to determine the incidence of thrombosis due to central venous catheterization. Following Broviac catheter placement, the catheter tip, distal superior vena cava, and right atrium were evaluated by weekly two-dimensional echocardiograms. The presence of thrombosis was examined in relation to birth weight, gestational age, age and weight at the time of catheter placement, antithrombin III levels, and platelet counts. Six newborns (14%) were noted to have a thrombus by echocardiographic examination after the catheter had been in place for a median duration of 7 weeks. The infants with thrombus formation had significantly lower birth weights (887 +/- 231 v 1,409 +/- 766 g; P = .003) and gestational ages (27 +/- 2.4 v 30.3 +/- 4.3 weeks; P = .018) than those without thrombus. Their weights (757 +/- 203 v 1,832 +/- 1,098 g; P = .000) and ages (2.75 +/- 0.76 v 7.24 +/- 7.8 weeks; P = .002) at the time of catheter placement were also lower; the antithrombin III levels were lower at the time of catheter placement (0.32 +/- 0.08 v 0.06 +/- 0.31 U/mL; P = .001), but were normal for gestational and postnatal age. The presence of thrombosis was not related to the sex of the baby, the platelet count, or the duration of catheterization.

Evaluation of mortality in surgical neonates over a 10-year period: nonpreventable, permissible, and preventable death

The mortality pattern and causes of death in surgical neonates were evaluated over the period of 1980 through 1990 in order to assess whether any deaths might have been prevented. In the study period 1,010 neonates were admitted, 104 of whom died (10%). These 104 neonates formed our study population. The Clinical Classification System (CCS) and the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) were used to assess the severity of illness. All 104 nonsurvivors were seriously ill (CCS 3 and 4; TISS greater than 20). The mortality pattern was classified in three groups. Group A (nonpreventable death) included 56 deaths, 48 of which were due to the underlying disease. The other 8 patients died of a nonpreventable complication of treatment. Eleven of the patients in group B (permissible death) had (multiple) congenital anomalies associated with chromosomal anomalies. Three of them were not treated and in the other 8 treatment was initially started but later withdrawn. In most of the other 14 patients further treatment was withdrawn because of serious postoperative complications or inoperable cardiac anomalies. Group C (preventable death) consisted of 23 patients. Six of 10 had irreversible brain damage due to prolonged hypoxemia. In the other 13 patients of group C, death was due to sepsis acquired in the postoperative period and treated inadequately. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequent isolated pathogen (7/13).