Pericardial tamponade: complication of total parenteral nutrition

The incidence and mortality rate of catheter-related neonatal pericardial effusion: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUD

Neonatal pericardial effusion (PCE) is one of the most severe complications of central catheters in neonates with its rapid progression and high mortality. We aim to estimate the overall incidence and mortality of catheter-related neonatal PCE, more importantly, to identify possible predictors for clinical reference.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, china national knowledge infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and Sinomed databases for subject words "central catheter," "neonate," "pericardial effusion" and their random words till June 8, 2020. This meta-analysis is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Possible predictors of occurrences and deaths were extracted and assessed cooperatively. The pooled incidence rate of catheter-related neonatal PCE was calculated using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Twenty-one cohort studies and 99 cases were eligible. Pooled incidence is 3·8‰[2.2‰, 6.7‰]. Polyurethane catheters generate significantly more neonatal PCE than silicone counterparts (P < .01). 27% of the patients die. The mortality of patients with bradycardia is higher than others (P < .05). Catheters with a guidewire result in more deaths than umbilical venous catheter (UVC) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) (P < .05). Without pericardiocentesis, mortality increases (P < .01). The difference of deaths between reposition and removing the catheter is insignificant (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Central catheters in Seldinger Technique (with a guidewire) put neonates at greater risk of PCE and consequent death. Silicone catheters excel at avoiding deadly catheter-related PCE, which could be a better choice in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). When catheter-related PCE occurs, timely diagnosis and pericardiocentesis save lives.

Pericardial Effusion/Cardiac Tamponade Induced by Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Although pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade (PCE/CT) is a rare complication of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), with an incidence of 0. 07-2%, it is associated with high mortality and is often life threatening. We sought to improve understanding of PICC-induced PCE/CT among pediatricians. Case presentation: The clinical data of PICC-associated PCE/CT in a very low birth weight (VLBW) infant were summarized, and the relevant literature was also reviewed. Conclusions: In VLBW infants with a PICC, if unstable respiratory circulatory system states are observed that cannot be explained, such as tachycardia, bradycardia, apnea, hypotension, and metabolic acidosis, PICC-induced PCE/CT should be considered. Early diagnosis and pericardial puncture are key to saving infants' lives.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous insertion of 2.7 Fr tunnelled Broviac lines in neonates and small infants

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Insertion of permanent central venous access (Broviac line) can be a challenge in neonates especially when sites for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) have been exhausted. The landmark technique (LT) has been well described for the percutaneous insertion of central lines in neonates but can be associated with significant complications including death. The use of the ultrasound-guided approach for temporary central line access has been reported but as yet there are no reports of the adaptation of the technique for Broviac line insertion in neonates.

METHOD

A prospective database records all procedures carried out by the vascular access team and any complications which occur; this database was reviewed from November 2004 to January 2008.

RESULTS

A consecutive series of 34 neonates underwent insertion of 36 Broviac lines using the ultrasound-guided percutaneous technique with a 2.7 Fr silastic line and a 3 Fr peel-apart sheath. Median gestational age was 34 weeks (range 24-40), chronological age was 102 days (14-209 days), weight 2.9 kg (0.63-4.1). Successful cannulation occurred in 100% of patients. There were no cases of arterial puncture or perioperative complications due to surgery.

CONCLUSION

The ultrasound-guided percutaneous approach for insertion of tunnelled permanent vascular access is safe in neonates with no surgical complications in our series. However, it is a technically demanding procedure to do in neonates and should not be attempted without significant prior experience.

Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade associated with central venous catheters in children: an uncommon but serious and treatable condition

PURPOSE

Pericardial effusion (PCE) resulting in cardiac tamponade (CT) is a rare complication associated with central venous catheters (CVCs) in children. The goal of this study was to determine the demographics, presenting clinical picture and CVC characteristics in children developing CT as a result of a CVC.

METHODS

An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of children treated at a tertiary-care pediatric hospital from 1998 to 2007 was conducted. Patients were identified through institutional database search for diagnostic codes of PCE and simultaneously assigned patient codes for the presence of CVC. Patients with incidentally discovered effusions, those with recent cardiac surgery, or those with causative factors other than a CVC were excluded.

RESULTS

Over the 10-year study period, 463 patients were identified using the search criteria. Six cases of CVC-associated PCE causing CT were identified (1.3%). Corrected postgestational age at diagnosis ranged from 34 to 41 weeks with a median corrected postgestational age of 38.5 weeks (median, 38.5 weeks). The median time from CVC placement to diagnosis was 2.5 days (range, 0-6 days). Radiographs obtained before diagnosis demonstrated CVC tip to be overlying the cardiac silhouette in 5 patients (83%). Five (83%) of the 6 patients were receiving hyperalimentation via the CVC at the time of PCE. All patients presented with clinical signs of cardiorespiratory distress and/or cardiac arrest. Pericardiocentesis was performed in 5 patients (83%) and resulted in rapid stabilization. All CVCs were removed at diagnosis. There was 1 mortality (17%).

CONCLUSIONS

Pericardial effusion and CT associated with CVC is rare and is chiefly a concern among infants. Characteristics of CVCs including infusate and tip position may be associated with increased risk of PCE. This diagnosis should be considered in any infant with a CVC who experiences acute respiratory distress or cardiovascular collapse.

Shifting from open surgical cut down to ultrasound-guided percutaneous central venous catheterization in children: learning curve and related complications

PURPOSE

Tunneled indwelling central venous catheters (CVC) are essential in the management of children with cancer, hematological, nephrological disorders and for parenteral nutrition. The aim of this study is to present the experience of a single center of the transition from traditional open surgical cut down procedure (OSC) to ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous CVC insertion, focusing on learning curve and related complications.

METHODS

All CVCs inserted between April 2008 and November 2009 in children at the Gaslini Children Hospital were revised, and data on methods of cannulation, intraoperative and device-related complications and re-intervention were recorded.

RESULTS

194 CVCs were positioned in 188 patients. 128 out of 194 CVCs were positioned through an OSC technique, whereas the remaining 66 CVCs were inserted percutaneously with US guidance. Of the 27 recorded complications, 15 were mechanical events, 7 cases developed infection, whereas the remaining 5 (2.6%) were classified as intraoperative complications. A second surgical procedure was described in 23 (11.8%) cases.

CONCLUSION

Shifting from OSC to US-guided percutaneous CVC insertion inevitably involves a challenging learning curve which is generally associated with high complication rates. Complications progressively decrease once a good experience in US guidance and percutaneous technique has been obtained.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous insertion of Hickman lines in children. Prospective study of 500 consecutive procedures

AIM

The ultrasound-guided percutaneous technique of Hickman line insertion has not been widely adopted in pediatric surgical practice. We wished to review our own experience of using this technique for insertion into the internal jugular vein.

METHODS

Our vascular access team consists of a consultant surgeon and 2 consultant anesthetists. All procedures were prospectively recorded on a database and were either performed or directly supervised by our team.

RESULTS

Five hundred consecutive Hickman lines were inserted between June 2004 and October 2006. Patients' ages ranged from 14 days to 19 years (median, 44 months). Patients weighed between 600 g to more than 100 kg. Lines inserted were all tunneled silicone Hickman lines with a Dacron cuff (size 2.7F-10F, with 1-3 lumens), of which 60% were 7F double-lumen lines. Successful cannulation occurred in 99.8%. Perioperative complications (within 30 days) occurred in 12 patients (2.4%) and were all treated conservatively with no need for either blood transfusion or chest drain. Catheter-related sepsis rate was 3.16 per 1000 line days.

DISCUSSION

1. The technique of ultrasound-guided percutaneous insertion of Hickman line to the internal jugular vein is safe and is applicable to all children regardless of size, age, or diagnosis. 2. Pediatric surgeons and anesthetists can learn this technique without specific training in interventional radiology. 3. A learning curve does exist, and we recommend concentrating pediatric vascular access procedures to a specialist team.

Pericardial effusion and tamponade in infants with central catheters

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical presentation, cause, and outcome of central venous catheter (CVC)-related pericardial effusions (PCE) in infants.

METHODS

A retrospective case review was conducted of CVC-related PCE at university and private neonatal intensive care units. Data from our cases were combined with published case reports and included clinical presentation and outcome; biochemical evaluation of pericardial fluid; days until diagnosis; cardiothoracic ratios; and CVC characteristics, insertion site, and tip placement site.

RESULTS

In our cases, 6 different neonatology groups cared for 14 patients at 6 different hospitals in 2 cities. These data were combined with 47 cases reviewed from the literature. Pericardial fluid was obtained in 54 cases from the combined group and was described qualitatively as consistent with the infusate in 53 of 54 cases (98%). Biochemical analysis was performed in 37 cases, and in 36 of 37 cases (97%), the pericardial fluid was consistent with the infusate. The median gestational age at birth was 30.0 weeks (range: 23.5-42). The median time from CVC insertion to diagnosis was 3.0 days (range: 0.2-37; n = 59). Sudden cardiac collapse was reported in 37 cases (61%), and unexplained cardiorespiratory instability was reported in 22 cases (36%). The CVC tip was last reported within the pericardial reflections on chest radiograph in 56 cases (92%) at the time of PCE diagnosis. The mean cardiothoracic ratio increased 17% (n = 14). No patients died among our cases. Among the reviewed cases, 45% mortality was reported. For the combined group, mortality was 34%. For the combined group, mortality was 8% (3 of 37) in the patients who underwent pericardiocentesis versus 75% (18 of 24) for the patients who did not. In 21 patients, the catheter was withdrawn and remained in use. Survivors and nonsurvivors had comparable gestational age at birth, birth weight, days to PCE diagnosis, and day of life of PCE symptoms/diagnosis. Access site, catheter type, and catheter size were not associated with mortality. An association between larger catheters and shorter time to PCE may be present. Access site and catheter type were not associated with time to PCE. Autopsy specimens reported 6 cases of myocardial necrosis/thrombus formation, 9 cases of perforation without myocardial necrosis/thrombus formation, and 2 cases in which both were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

The pericardial fluid found in CVC-associated PCE is consistent with the infusate. We speculate that there are several mechanisms, ranging from frank perforation that seals spontaneously to CVC tip adhesion to the myocardium with diffusion into the pericardial space. Routine radiography should be performed, and the CVC tip should be readily identifiable. The CVC tip should remain outside the cardiac silhouette but still within the vena cavae (approximately 1 cm outside the cardiac silhouette in premature infants and 2 cm in term infants). A change in cardiothoracic ratio may be diagnostic of a PCE, and pericardiocentesis is associated with significantly reduced mortality. Increased awareness of this complication may decrease the mortality associated with CVC-related PCE.

Central venous catheter tip in the right atrium: a risk factor for neonatal cardiac tamponade

Fatal cardiac tamponade is a well recognised complication of the use of central venous catheters in neonatal patients. There is controversy over optimum catheter tip position to balance catheter performance against risk of adverse events. We report a series of five cases of tamponade occurring in one neonatal unit over a 4-year period, related to catheter tip placement in the right atrium. Right atrial catheter angulation, curvature or looping (CA) was present in all five cases on plain radiograph. It was frequently seen in other patients over the same period. Review of the literature indicates that CA was present in 6 of the 11 previous cases where the presence or absence of CA can be determined. Where right atrial catheter tip placement is accepted, clinicians should be aware of this characteristic catheter configuration, which is a major risk factor for cardiac tamponade. We recommend that catheter tips should not be placed in the right atrium to avoid risk of tamponade.

Pericardial parenteral nutrition infusion following acute angulation of a neonatal polyurethane central venous catheter tip

Life threatening cardiac tamponade developed in a premature infant due to perforation of the heart by a 2F central venous catheter used to administer parenteral nutrition. Abnormal orientation of the catheter tip preceded the appearance of the pericardial effusion. Unusual angulation of the tip of central venous lines in premature infants may be an important warning sign of impending cardiac perforation and its potentially major sequelae and should therefore prompt immediate repositioning of the catheter.

Idiopathic hydropericardium as a cause of death of a preterm neonate

We report a case of a very premature infant who died on day 17 of life because of clinically unsuspected cardiac tamponade due to a pericardial effusion with no gross or microscopic features of myocardial inflammation or perforation. The pericardial effusion probably accumulated for 8 days prior to his death, as evidenced by chest X-ray films. The only relevant microscopic finding was a prominent pericardial and myocardial interstitial edema. Although Staphylococcus epidermidis line sepsis, central venous catheter trauma, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and heart failure could be possible contributory factors, no definitive cause of the pericardial effusion was found and the etiology of this condition remains obscure.

Cardiac tamponade from a fine silastic central venous catheter in a premature infant

A 790 g infant developed cardiac tamponade 17 h after starting parenteral nutrition through a fine silastic catheter, the tip of which was accidentally positioned against the wall of the right atrium. Cold light examination suggested the diagnosis and pericardial aspiration of clear fluid with a high glucose content restored the circulation.

Cardiac tamponade and hydrothorax as complications of central venous parenteral nutrition in infants

The recent use of soft catheters made of silastic polymeric silicone or polyurethane has decreased the incidence of perforation of great veins or right-sided heart chambers but has not eliminated it as had been hoped. Two premature infants who presented with cardiac tamponade more than 24 hr after the insertion of a 23-gauge silastic catheter for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) administration are described. In one infant, bilateral hydrothorax preceded the occurrence of cardiac tamponade. Osmotic injury to great vessels and/or myocardium seems to be the common mechanism but which these complications of intraluminal catheters are produced. Review of the pediatric literature revealed a proportion of low birth weight infants among the reported cases. Despite a prohibitively high mortality rate, early recognition can prevent a fatal outcome.

Iatrogenic disease in the perinatal period

The ever-changing complexion of iatrogenic perinatal disease dictates the following: 1. Neonatologists and pediatric pathologists must be aware of the current spectrum of these lesions and ever alert to the appearance of new ones. 2. The neonatologist and pediatric pathologist within any given institution should be in regular, systematic communication with each other concerning lesions of this type. 3. There must be a national network for rapid dissemination or exchange of information among institutions regarding these lesions. The Study Group for the Complications of Perinatal Care (SGCPC), established in 1984 as an international, multicenter, multidisciplinary study group, is committed to the prevention of complications of perinatal care by individual and collective effort. Its individual members include perinatologists, neonatologists, pediatric pathologists, and obstetricians. There are institutional members as well. Activities to date include the development of a standardized perinatal autopsy protocol and the initiation of a uniform system for the categorization of perinatal deaths. If the reader is interested in obtaining further information about the organization, contact Trevor Macpherson, MD, in the Department of Pathology at the Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Vascular access

In a retrospective survey of vascular access by means of central venous catheters, those inserted via a tunnel lasted four times longer than those inserted directly into a vein. The latter were four times more likely to become infected. The general health of patients receiving chemotherapy resulted in frequent episodes of sepsis and one-third of all catheters were removed because of presumed infection. There were no complications relating to insertion, which was by direct exposure of a central vein, preferably the right internal jugular. Long-term atrial catheters were not associated with major venous thrombosis or cardiac complications. Safe vascular access is an important contribution to the management of children with malignant disease, notwithstanding the high infection rate. A specially trained nurse, working closely with experienced play leaders and social workers, minimises the technical and psychological problems associated with long-term central venous catheters.

Cardiac tamponade from central venous catheters. Report of a case and review of the English literature

A case of acute cardiac tamponade caused by an internal jugular central venous catheter which was successfully treated is reported. The English literature is reviewed and shows that tamponade can occur up to 37 days after insertion and has a 65% mortality. The tamponade is usually caused by the actual infusate and not by blood.