Tunneled central venous catheter for neonates: A simple technique for prolonged indwelling central catheters in intensive care

To describe and evaluate a new technique to insert a 24-gauge Silastic catheter in a central vein with a subcutaneous tunneled catheter in newborns after peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) insertion failure.

Retrospective chart review.

Pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit.

Twenty-nine newborns in whom a new technique was used to insert a prolonged indwelling jugular, femoral, or subclavian Silastic tunneled central catheter.

None.

This new technique was used in 29 newborns between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005. The mean gestational age was 34 +/- 5 wks with a mean weight of 2440 +/- 1101 g. Thirty-four insertion attempts were carried out. Access sites were internal jugular (28 of 34), femoral (three of 34) or subclavian (three of 34) vein. In five cases, catheter insertion failed. Pneumothorax occurred two times, and no other serious complication were observed.

This technique is an interesting alternative when PICC insertion is not possible.