Refractory hypoglycemia associated with a malpositioned umbilical artery catheter

An infant with unexplained hypoglycemia who responded poorly to medical management had the tip of his umbilical artery catheter positioned near the major arteries supplying the pancreas. Catheter repositioning resulted in immediate normoglycemia. A "reactive" response to the direct infusion of glucose is postulated on the basis of the clinical response and a decrease in serum insulin/blood glucose ratio.