Abstract
Central venous catheterization is widely used in neonatal intensive care units to support tiny preterm babies. Pericardial effusion (PCE) and cardiac tamponade are uncommon but potentially fatal complications of percutaneous, umbilical and surgically placed central venous catheters related to intracardiac position or migration. This report describes a case of PCE arising from fluid infused via umbilical venous catheter. The case study highlights two important aspects: one, occurrence of PCE in a baby with satisfactory position of the umbilical catheter, and second, the life-saving application of basic echocardiography by bedside caregivers for the diagnosis and treatment of this critical condition.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beardsall K, White DK, Pinto EM, Kelsall AWR . Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade as complications of neonatal long lines: are they really a problem? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal ed 2003; 88: F292–F295.
Onal EE, Saygili A, Koc E, Turkyilmaz C, Okumus N, Atalay AX . Cardiac tamponade in a newborn because of umbilical venous catheterization: is correct position safe? Pediatr Anes 2004; 14: 953–956.
Paster S, Middleton P . Roentgenographic evaluation of umbilical artery and vein catheters. JAMA 1975; 231: 742–746.
Nadroo AM, Lin J, Green RS, Magid MS, Holzman IR . Death as a complication of peripherally inserted central catheters in neonates. J Pediatr 2001; 138: 599–601.
Cartwright DW . Central venous lines in neonates: a study of 2186 catheters. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2004; 89: F504–F508.
Department of Health (UK). Review of the deaths of four babies due to cardiac tamponade associated with the presence of central venous catheter. www.doh.gov.uk/manchesterreport/manchesterreport.pdf 2000.
Yoder D . Cardiac perforation and tamponade: the deadly duo of central venous catheters. Int J Trauma Nurs. 2001; 7: 108–112, FDA website: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=1.
Jouvencel P, Tourneux P, Perez T, Sauret A, Nelson JR, Brissaud O et al. Central catheters and pericardial effusion: results of a multicentric retrospective study. Arch Pediatr 2005; 12 (10): 1456–1461.
Collier PE, Blocker SH, Graff DM, Doyle P . Cardiac tamponade from central venous catheters. Am J Surg 1998; 176: 212–214.
Ades A, Sable C, Cummings S, Cross R, Markle B, Martin G . Echocardiographic evaluation of umbilical venous catheter placement. J Perinatol 2003; 23: 24–28.
Greenberg M, Movahed H, Peterson B, Bejar R . Placement of umbilical venous catheters with use of bed-side real time Ultrasonography. J Pediatr 1995; 126: 633–635.
Nowlen TT, Rosenthal GL, Johnson GL, Tom DJ, Vargo TA . Pericardial effusion and tamponade in infants with central catheters. Pediatrics 2002; 110 (1): 137–142.
Garg M, Chang CC, Merritt RJ . An unusual case presentation. Pericardial tamponade complicating central venous catheter. J Perinatol 1989; 9: 456–457.
Katumba-Lunyenya JL . Neonatal/infant echocardiography by the non-cardiologist: a personal practice, past, present, and future. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2002; 86 (1): F55–F57.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sehgal, A., Cook, V. & Dunn, M. Pericardial effusion associated with an appropriately placed umbilical venous catheter. J Perinatol 27, 317–319 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211678
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211678
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
The incidence of pericardial effusion requiring intervention in infants with a history of umbilical catheter placement: the US national database
Journal of Perinatology (2021)
-
Factors affecting survival in pediatric cardiac tamponade caused by central venous catheters
Journal of Anesthesia (2015)
-
Superiority of targeted neonatal echocardiography for umbilical venous catheter tip localization: accuracy of a clinician performance model
Journal of Perinatology (2013)
-
Patent ductus arteriosus ligation and post-operative hemodynamic instability: Case report and framework for enhanced neonatal care
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics (2010)
-
Pericardial Effusion in a Preterm Infant Resulting from Umbilical Venous Catheter Placement
Pediatric Cardiology (2010)