Key result
Umbilical venous catheterisation in neonates can cause severe cardiac arrhythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia and atrial flutter, primarily due to inappropriate catheter positioning.
Case Report (n=2)
Cardiac arrhythmia is a rare but potentially severe complication of umbilical venous catheterisation in neonates, primarily caused by inappropriate catheter position and managed by pulling back or removing the catheter.
Position verification is mandatory during neonatal umbilical venous catheterisation; leaves open true incidence and optimal prevention strategies.
Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) are commonly used in the management of severely ill neonates. Several life-threatening complications have been described, including catheter-related infections, myocardial perforation, pericardial effusion and cardiac arrhythmias. This report describe two neonates with cardiac arrhythmias due to umbilical venous catheterisation. One neonate had a supraventricular tachycardia requiring treatment with intravenous adenosine administration. Another neonate had an atrial flutter and was managed successfully with synchronised cardioversion. The primary cause of cardiac arrhythmias after umbilical venous catheterisation is inappropriate position of the UVC within the heart and the first step to treat them should be to pull back or even remove the catheter. Cardiac arrhythmia is a rare but potentially severe complication of umbilical venous catheterisation in neonates.
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Verheij et al. (2009) conducted a case report in Cardiac arrhythmias (n=2). Umbilical venous catheterisation was evaluated on Cardiac arrhythmias. Umbilical venous catheterisation in neonates can cause severe cardiac arrhythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia and atrial flutter, primarily due to inappropriate catheter positioning.
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