Central Venous Catheters in Neonates: Old Territory, New Frontiers: Invited Commentary to Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters in Critically Ill Premature Neonates , by Ozkiraz et al, J Vasc Access 2013;14(4):320-324

Ultrasound-guided vascular access in the neonatal intensive care unit: a nationwide survey

Ultrasound-guided vascular access (USG-VA) is recommended by international practice guidelines but information regarding its use in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is lacking. Our objective was to assess neonatologist's perceptions and current implementation of USG-VA in Spain. This was a nationwide online survey. The survey was composed of 37 questions divided in 4 domains: (1) neonatologist's background, (2) NICU characteristics, (3) personal perspectives about USG-VA, and (4) clinical experience in USG-VA. One-hundred and eighty survey responses from 59 NICUs (62% of Spanish NICUs) were analyzed. Most neonatologists (81%) perceive that competence in USG-VA is indispensable or very useful in clinical practice. However, 64 (35.5%) have never used USG-VA in real patients. Among neonatologists with some experience in USG-VA most perform less than 5 procedures per year (59% in venous access and 80% in arterial access) and a 38% and 60% have never used USG for venous and arterial access, respectively, in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). More than a half of neonatologists (55.5%) use US to check catheter tip location but a 46.6% always perform a radiography for confirmation. Spanish neonatologists report that resident/fellow training in USG-VA is absent (52.2%) or unstructured (32%) in their units. The lack of adequate training is identified by a 60% of neonatologists as the most important barrier for implementation of USG-VA and 87% would recommend that future neonatologists receive formal training.

CONCLUSION

Spanish neonatologists perceive that USG-VA is important in clinical practice but currently, these techniques are largely underused. Our results indicate that specific training in USG-VA should be implemented in the NICU.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Ultrasound-guided vascular access is recommended as the preferred method for central venous access and arterial line placement in children and adults. • The degree of current implementation of ultrasound for vascular access in the NICU and the perceptions of neonatologist about its use are largely unknown.

WHAT IS NEW

• Most neonatologists consider that competence in ultrasound-guided vascular access is an indispensable aid for clinical practice. • However, most neonatologists are not adequately trained in ultrasound-guided vascular access and the technique is largely underused.

Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein may reduce central line-associated bloodstream infection in preterm infants

The objective of this study was to assess the risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) of ultrasound (US)-guided cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein (BCV) compared to standard epicutaneous cava catheters (ECCs) in preterm infants. This was a retrospective cohort study in preterm infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g. Each BCV catheter was matched 1:3 with ECCs according to sex, birth weight, and year of insertion. The main outcome was the CLABSI density rate per 1000 days. Secondary outcomes included CLABSI episodes, CLABSI episodes per infant, and CLABSI/death. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess whether the type of catheter (ECC vs. BCV) was associated with CLABSI risk. Ninety-six catheters (21 BCVs and 75 ECCs) in 79 infants were included (993 catheter days). BCV catheters were associated with a reduced CLABSI density rate compared to ECCs (3.05/1000 days vs 21.1/1000 days; p < 0.001). ECCs were associated with increased CLABSI risk compared to BCV catheters in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 36; (95% CI, 2.5-511); p = 0.008).Conclusion: US-guided supraclavicular cannulation of the BCV was associated with a reduced risk of CLABSI compared to ECCs. This finding deserves further multicenter research. What is Known: • An epicutaneous-cava catheter (ECC) is commonly used in preterm infants for routine care (eg. delivery of nutrition and antibiotics) but this device may not suffice in infants who need high-intensity care (multiple drugs, hemodynamic monitoring, fluid resuscitation etc.). • Ultrasound-guided brachiocephalic vein (BCV) catheterization has shown a high success rate and few immediate complications in neonates and small infants but it has never been compared to standard ECCs. What is New: • When the operator in properly trained, US guided cannulation of the BCV in preterm infants is feasible, safe and may reduce the risk of CLABSI compared to standard ECCs. • This fact may expand the use of BCV catheters in selected high-risk preterm infants who need a large bore venous access.

Epicutaneo-caval catheters in neonates: New insights and new suggestions from the recent literature

Epicutaneo-caval catheters have been widely used in neonatal intensive care units since Shaw has described them in 1973. These central venous access devices are usually placed at bedside and they have the purpose of delivering parenteral nutrition and/or drugs that are not compatible with the peripheral route. Even though in the last decade there was a fast advancement in the world of vascular access devices, such changes have only marginally affected the field of neonatal venous access. The aim of this editorial is to give 10 recommendations that correspond to 10 novelties in the field of epicutaneo-caval catheter: some are already evidence-based and should be introduced in our daily practice now, while others are particularly interesting and deserve further clinical studies.

Atypical use of PICC in Infants and Small Children: A Unicentric Experience

Introduction

The peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are vascular access devices (VAD) that are increasingly being used in the pediatric population. If a small vein caliber prevents positioning the catheter in the arm, the following step is to position the same catheter in the supraclavicular area, which can be defined as an off-label use or “atypical” approach, first described by Pittiruti.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed PICC positioning with puncture-site in the supra-clavicular area (“atypical” PICC insertion) and then tunneled on the chest.

Results

Nineteen atypical PICCs were positioned in 18 patients. The median age of patients at the day of implant was 14 months (IQR 3-27 months), and weight 7.5 kg (IQR 4-12 kg). Within this population, 74% of cases scheduled for a typical PICC insertion presented vein caliber too small for this procedure. For this reason, the typical PICC insertion was changed in favor of an atypical PICC procedure. Atypical PICCs were successfully used in 100% of cases without immediate complications.

Conclusions

Atypical PICC positioning is a safe and useful alternative to the conventional technique when there is need for a central vascular access device (CVAD) for mid- or long-term therapy.

Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Cannulation in Low Birth Weight Neonates

OBJECTIVES

Central venous access in critically ill, small infants remains technically challenging even in experienced hands. Several vascular accesses exist, but the subclavian vein is often preferred for central venous catheter insertion in infants where abdominal malformation and/or closure of the vein preclude the use of umbilical venous catheters, as catheterization of the subclavian vein is easier in very short necks than the internal jugular vein for age-related anatomical reasons. The subclavian vein approach is yet relatively undescribed in low birth weight infants (i.e., < 2,500 g), and this study aims to explore the feasibility of this technique in very small infants.

DESIGN

Retrospective data collection of prospectively registered data on central venous catheter insertion in infants.

SETTING

Neonatal ICU and PICU at a university hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred and five newborn children hospitalized in at the ICU.

INTERVENTIONS

An ultrasound-guided supraclavicular approach was applied on all infants who had an subclavian vein catheterization during a 30-month period from January 2013 to July 2015.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred seven supraclavicular subclavian vein catheters were placed in 105 children weighing less than 5,000 g. Among those, 40 patients weighed less than 2,500 g and 10 patients weighed less than 1,500 g. Successful central venous catheter insertion, defined as the correct placement of a functional double-lumen catheter (3F or 4F), was obtained in 97.3%. All three registered failed attempts were due to hematomas from venous bleeding and occurred in infants weighing greater than 2,500 g. No case of accidental arterial puncture or pleural puncture was registered.

CONCLUSIONS

This large series of subclavian vein catheterizations in small infants demonstrates the feasibility of subclavian vein catheterizations even in very small neonates weighing less than 1,500 g.