A novel, simple way to insert percutaneous central venous catheters in newborn babies

Percutaneous central venous catheters (PCVC) have become commonplace in neonatal intensive care units, There is now available a 27-gauge silicone catheter (Premicath, Vygon, Germany) that is inserted through a 24-gauge butterfly needle. We describe a simple technique that allows a PCVC to be inserted without the need for a butterfly needle or guide wire in any baby who has an indwelling peripheral intravenous cannula.