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Umbilical venous catheter insertion depth estimation using birth weight versus surface measurement formula: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 567–572 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective

To determine if umbilical venous catheter (UVC) insertion depth estimated by surface measurement (SM) results in optimal catheter tip position on ultrasound as compared with formula using birth weight (BW).

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, eligible infants were randomized to UVC insertion depth estimated by SM or BW method. We compared proportion of optimum UVC position on ultrasound read by neonatologist masked with group assignment.

Results

UVC was inserted to estimated depth in 164 of 200 enroled infants. There was no difference in the proportion of correctly positioned UVCs between the groups (SM 33/82 (40.2%) vs BW 27/82 (32.9%), p = 0.33). Among BW < 1000 g, SM method had higher correctly positioned UVC (43.7% vs 22.5%, p = 0.07).

Conclusion

There was no difference in the rate of optimally positioned UVC tip between the two methods for estimating UVC insertion depth. However, SM method results in more optimal positioning of UVC tip among BW < 1000 g infants.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants and their parents, the nurses who provided care and assisted with procedures, and the clinicians who assisted in recruitment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Ayman Sheta, Majeeda Kamaluddeen & Amuchou Singh Soraisham

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ayman Sheta

  3. Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Amuchou Singh Soraisham

Authors
  1. Ayman Sheta
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  2. Majeeda Kamaluddeen
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  3. Amuchou Singh Soraisham
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Correspondence to Amuchou Singh Soraisham.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Trial registration number: This study was registered with clinical trials register (NCT02939690 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

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Sheta, A., Kamaluddeen, M. & Soraisham, A.S. Umbilical venous catheter insertion depth estimation using birth weight versus surface measurement formula: a randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol 40, 567–572 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0456-0

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