Accuracy of five formulae to determine the insertion length of umbilical venous catheters

Abstract

Introduction Umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement is a common neonatal procedure. It is important to position the UVC tip accurately at the first attempt to prevent complications and minimise handling. Catheters positioned too low need to be removed, but catheters positioned too high may be withdrawn in a sterile fashion to a safe position. We aimed to determine the precision and accuracy of five published formulae developed to guide UVC placement. Methods This was a prospective observational study. Following UVC insertion, anteroposterior and lateral X-rays were performed to identify catheter tip position. Parameters required to apply the five formulae were recorded. Insertion lengths ..