The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2012 , Vol 54 , Num 6
Sterile Hepatic Abscess due to Umbilical Venous Catheterization
2Neonatology Unit, 1Department of Pediatrics and 3Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine,
Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: cihangulsutbas@gmail.com
A preterm infant with isolated fetal ascites was admitted to the neonatal
intensive care unit due to the appearance of respiratory distress at birth. An
umbilical venous catheter (UVC) was inserted. Abdominal ultrasonography (US)
showed localization of the catheter tip in the portal vein. It was removed and
replaced with a newer one. UVC tip location was confirmed with X-ray. His
condition had been improving until he worsened suddenly on the sixth day of
life. US showed hepatic abscess and intraabdominal hemorrhage derived from
the malpositioned UVC. A drainage catheter was inserted to the abscess and
paracentesis was applied. Practitioners should be cautious about any signs
of UVC complications, even if true localization of the catheter tip is proven
at the first application. Furthermore, if it is difficult to decide whether the
catheter tip is in the right location, confirmation with US can be considered.
Keywords :
umbilical vein catheterization, complication, hepatic abscess, newborn.