A catheter (tube) placed in one of the arteries located in the umbilical cord is commonly uses for monitoring blood pressure or drawing blood in sick newborn babies. There seems to be significant variation between neonatal intensive care units in exactly how these catheters are used. This variation involves whether drugs that decrease blood clotting are added, what catheter materials is used, the catheter design, and the positioning of the catheter. This review looked at the effect of catheter material.
There were no significant effects of substituting a heparin bonded polyurethane catheter (a plastic catheter with anticoagulant medication built into the catheter) for the standard PVC catheter (a plastic catheter without the medication). The non-randomized study suggested that there may possibly be a benefit of using a catheter constructed from the material Silastic in reducing blood clots in the aorta.
Based on the limited information from this review, there are no demonstrated clinically relevant differences in outcomes between the use of PVC catheters and other materials. Therefore, other considerations such as price and ease of availability may dictate the catheter chosen. A trial that is large enough to demonstrate important clinical differences is warranted.
There are no demonstrated clinically relevant differences in outcomes between the use of PVC catheters and other materials. Therefore, other considerations such as price and ease of availability may dictate the catheter chosen. An adequately powered randomized comparison of silastic to PVC should be performed.
Umbilical arterial catheters (UACs) are among the most commonly used monitoring methodologies in neonatal intensive care. There seems to be significant variance between neonatal intensive care units in exactly how these catheters are used. This variance involves heparin dosing, catheter materials and catheter design, and positioning of the catheter.
To determine whether the material used for construction of an umbilical arterial catheter influences the frequency of ischemic events, aortic thrombosis, mortality or necrotising enterocolitis in newborn infants.
Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials of umbilical catheterization use were obtained using the search methods of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (search via PubMed), CINAHL and EMBASE were searched from 1999 to 2009.
Randomized studies in newborn infants of any birthweight or gestation.
Comparison of different catheter materials.
Clinically important end points such as ischemic events, aortic thrombosis, or catheter occlusion.
One non-randomized and one randomized study were retrieved.
There were no significant effects of substituting a heparin bonded polyurethane catheter for the standard PVC catheter. The non-randomized study suggested that there may possibly be a benefit of using a catheter constructed from Silastic, with a reduction in aortic thrombosis.