| Abstrakt: |
This article focuses on complications involved in umbilical vessel catheterization in infants. The study presented in the article describes a prospective study designed to assess the incidence of catheter-related complications in a referral center where consistency in technique, management and surveillance is possible. Of 532 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care units of the University of Louisville affiliated hospitals between November 23, 1974 and July 5, 1975, a total of 200 infants had umbilical vessel catheters inserted, 168 in the arteries and 34 in the veins. Catheters were removed as quickly as was clinically safe. With aseptic technique the infusion of solution was discontinued, the sutures removed, and the catheter withdrawn. Birth weight, gestational age, perinatal history, age at catheterization, duration of catheterization, site of catheterization, complications of catheterization, and clinical course were recorded for each infant. |
