Real-time ultrasound for tip location of umbilical venous catheter in neonates: a pre/post intervention study

• Main Authors: Serena Antonia Rubortone, Simonetta Costa, Alessandro Perri, Vito D’Andrea, Giovanni Vento, Giovanni Barone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-03-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Pediatrics
• Subjects: Neonates; Real-time ultrasound; Training; Umbilical venous catheter
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-021-01014-7

Abstract Background Recent guidelines advocate the use of real-time ultrasound to locate umbilical venous catheter tip. So far, training programs are not well established. Methods A pre/post interventional study was carried out in our tertiary neonatal intensive care unit centre to evaluate the efficacy of a training protocol in the use of real-time ultrasound. Primary outcome was the percentage in the use of real-time ultrasound. Results Fifty-four patients were enrolled. The use of real-time ultrasound for tip location significantly increased after the training program (15.3% vs 89.2%, p <  0.0001). After the training the tip of the catheters was more frequently placed at the junction of the inferior vena cava and right atrium (75% vs 30.7%, p = 0.0023). Twenty-two catheters were also evaluated with serial scans during the intervention phase to assess migration rate which was 50%. Conclusion a multimodal, targeted training on the use of real-time ultrasound for umbilical venous catheter placement is feasible. Real-time ultrasound is easily teachable, increases the number of umbilical venous catheters placed in a correct position, reduces the number of line manipulations and the need of chest-x-rays.