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Oman Med J 2021 Mar 31;36(2):e242. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Department of Neonatology, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, UAE.

Pleural effusion is an extremely rare complication in neonates after umbilical venous catheterization that can present with respiratory distress, a neonatal emergency. It needs timely intervention to reduce respiratory distress. We report an interesting and rare case where a term newborn developed right-sided pleural effusion after umbilical venous catheter (UVC) insertion and starting on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Read More

BMC Med Educ 2020 Sep 21;20(1):318. Epub 2020 Sep 21.

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.

Background: Simulation training is widely used in medical education as students rarely perform clinical procedures, and confidence can influence practitioners' ability to perform procedures. Thus, this study assessed students' perceptions and experiences of a pediatric skills program and compared their informed self-assessment with their preceptor-evaluated performance competency for several pediatric clinical procedures.

Methods: A total of 65 final-year medical students attended a weeklong pediatric skills training course by the University of Tripoli that used a manikin and various clinical scenarios to simulate real-life cases. Read More

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2020 09 17;44(4):491-496. Epub 2020 Aug 17.

French Network for Rare Liver Diseases (FILFOIE), Saint-Antoine Hospital, APHP, 184, rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rangueil Hospital, University Hospital of Toulouse, 1, avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31400 Toulouse, France.

Chronic non cirrhotic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) refers to the cavernomatous transformation of the portal vein (the so-called "portal cavernoma") which occurs following acute thrombosis of the portal vein in the absence of recanalization. In adults, EHPVO mainly occurs following thrombosis, while in children it may be related to congenital malformations and/or neonatal umbilical venous catheterization. However, 50% of the cases of EHPVO remain idiopathic [1]. Read More

Pediatr Neonatol 2020 12 20;61(6):663-664. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, AUMC, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

J Vasc Access 2021 Mar 30;22(2):243-253. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Women's Wellness and Research Center (WWRC), Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar.

Background: Until the 1980s, central vascular access in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was predominantly delivered by umbilical catheters and only and if needed by surgical cutdowns or subclavian vein catheterization through blind percutaneous venipuncture. In the early 1980s, epicutaneo-caval catheters were successfully introduced.

Methods: In our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a dedicated team to insert epicutaneo-caval catheters was formally established in January 2017, including 12 neonatologists and 1 neonatal nurse practitioner. Read More

Thromb Res 2020 10 25;194:21-25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Radiology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Pusan, Republic of Korea.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the risk factors for subclinical umbilical catheter-related thrombosis (UCRT) and its association with clinical morbidities.

Materials And Methods: In infants without any symptoms associated with umbilical catheterization, the presence of thrombosis was monitored using abdominal ultrasonography within 1 week after umbilical catheter removal. The association between UCRT and the clinical variables was analyzed by comparing the groups with and without UCRT. Read More

Niger J Clin Pract 2020 Mar;23(3):429-433

Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Bleeding oesophageal varices is a rare condition in children and most of them are usually of extrahepatic causes. Neonatal umbilical catheterization even though safe has been identified as a cause of portal vein thrombosis and oesophaeal varices. We report a 9-year old Nigerian girl who had massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding from oesophageal varices secondary to pulmonary vein stenosis. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 02 21;10(1):3205. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, IT, Italy.

The design of 3D complex structures enables new correlation studies between the engineering parameters and the biological activity. Moreover, additive manufacturing technology could revolutionise the personalised medical pre-operative management due to its possibility to interplay with computer tomography. Here we present a method based on rapid freeze prototyping (RFP) 3D printer, reconstruction cutting, nano dry formulation, fast freeze gelation, disinfection and partial processes for the 5D digital models functionalisation. Read More

Pediatr Neonatol 2020 02 7;61(1):1-2. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, MacKay Children's Hospital, No.92, Sec.2, Chung Shan North Road, 10449, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, No.46, Sec. 3, Zhongzheng Rd., Sanzhi Dist., New Taipei City, 252, Taiwan. Electronic address:

J Perinatol 2020 04 7;40(4):573-580. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Yale-University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.

Objective: To assess complication rates and risks associated with the use of umbilical catheters.

Study Design: An observational cohort study was conducted in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit over 11 years. Any neonate with an umbilical catheter placed during this period was included. Read More

Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2019 12;33(6):687-692

Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.

Purpose: Drug-eluting balloon catheters (DEBc) coated with paclitaxel (PTX) have been associated with potential safety concerns. An efficacious but less toxic balloon coating may reduce these outcomes. We evaluated a novel DEBc, Epi-Solve, coated with metacept-3 (MCT-3), a member of the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) class of epigenetic agents, in a large animal model of neointimal hyperplasia (NIH). Read More

Cell Transplant 2019 Dec 17;28(1_suppl):14S-24S. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Experimental Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.

Hepatocyte transplantation (HcTx) is a promising approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases in newborns and children. The most common application route is the portal vein, which is difficult to access in the newborn. Transfemoral access to the splenic artery for HcTx has been evaluated in adults, with trials suggesting hepatocyte translocation from the spleen to the liver with a reduced risk for thromboembolic complications. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Dec 3;12(12). Epub 2019 Dec 3.

Neonatology, Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Central venous lines are an essential part of neonatal intensive care and are used for infusion of medications and parenteral nutrition (PN). PN is usually given via either peripherally inserted central lines or umbilical venous lines. Occasionally, central venous catheters (CVCs) are inserted in the femoral veins. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2019 Sep 19;20:1382-1386. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Department of Neonatology, King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND Umbilical venous catheter (UVC) insertion is a standard of care in neonatal units. Pericardial effusion, one of the rare but fatal complications of UVC insertion, requires rapid diagnosis and management, and saline contrast echocardiography may enable effective diagnosis. Here, we have reported on the case of pericardial effusion after UVC insertion, highlighted the use of saline contrast echocardiography as a diagnostic tool, and reviewed the available literature on this infrequent life-threatening complication. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2020 Feb 9;39(2):379-383. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan.

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of confirming the position of an umbilical venous catheter (UVC) tip by an ultrasound (US) examination. However, methods for preventing insertion into the portal circulation under US guidance have not yet been established. We report 15 cases in which a UVC was successfully passed through the ductus venosus by compressing the upper abdomen near the portal sinus of the liver to align the umbilical vein and ductus venosus under US guidance. Read More

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2020 May 7;105(3):299-303. Epub 2019 Aug 7.

Department of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Background: Umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) are associated with thrombus formation. Most studies on thrombosis in infants with UVCs focus on only one part of the route, and none assessed a control group of infants without UVCs.

Objective: To determine the incidence and location of thrombi in infants after umbilical catheterisation and compare this with a control group of infants without umbilical catheters. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Aug 6;55(8). Epub 2019 Aug 6.

NICU, University General Hospital, 41222 Larissa, Greece.

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and umbilical venous catheters (UVC) are frequently used for vascular access in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). While there is a significant need for these devices for critically ill neonates, there are many complications associated with their use. We aimed at investigating the incidence of UVC and PICC complications in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Read More

J Perinatol 2020 04 5;40(4):567-572. Epub 2019 Aug 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Objective: To determine if umbilical venous catheter (UVC) insertion depth estimated by surface measurement (SM) results in optimal catheter tip position on ultrasound as compared with formula using birth weight (BW).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, eligible infants were randomized to UVC insertion depth estimated by SM or BW method. We compared proportion of optimum UVC position on ultrasound read by neonatologist masked with group assignment. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2019 Sep 5;26(6):381-384. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Pontoise, Hospital René-Dubos, 6, avenue de l'Île-de-France, 95300 Pontoise, France.

Fast and safe venous access can be a critical issue in the delivery room during neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation or before endotracheal intubation. Here, we describe a new method to inject drugs using the umbilical vein, directly punctured through Wharton's jelly, performed in ten newborns between November 2016 and May 2018. The umbilical vein was identified and punctured easily and a reflux was obtained in all patients. Read More

J Med Microbiol 2019 Sep 5;68(9):1306-1313. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.

Umbilical catheterization offers unique vascular access that is only possible in the neonatal setting due to unobstructed umbilical vessels from foetal circulation. With the cut of the umbilical cord, two arteries and a vein are dissected, allowing quick and painless catheterization of the neonate. Unfortunately, keeping the umbilical access sterile is challenging due to its mobility and necrosis of the umbilical stump, which makes it a perfect model for vessel catheter colonization analysis. Read More

Artif Organs 2019 Dec 28;43(12):1154-1161. Epub 2019 Jul 28.

Center for Fetal Research, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

EXTEND (EXTra-uterine Environment for Neonatal Development) is a novel system for supporting extremely premature infants that replicates in utero conditions by maintaining a sterile fluid environment and providing gas exchange via a pumpless arteriovenous oxygenator circuit connected to the umbilical vessels. Target gestational age (GA) for EXTEND support in human infants is 23-27 weeks, when immature lungs are most susceptible to injury in the setting of air ventilation. We previously demonstrated physiologic support of premature lambs cannulated at 105-117 days GA (lungs developmentally analogous to the 23-27 week GA human infant) for up to 28 days on EXTEND. Read More

Pediatr Neonatol 2020 02 18;61(1):16-24. Epub 2019 May 18.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children's Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, 33305, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 259, Wenhua 1st Rd., Taoyuan City 33302, Taiwan.

Background: Care of newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit generally involves umbilical venous catheterization (UVC) for central vein access to enable medical needs. The study aimed to evaluate the sonographic appearance, risk factors, and outcomes of UVC-related hepatic extravasation (HE) in neonates.

Methods: A 5-year retrospective study where 33 neonates were enrolled with a diagnosis age ranging from 2 to 25 days. Read More

An Pediatr (Barc) 2020 Apr 22;92(4):215-221. Epub 2019 May 22.

Servicio de Neonatología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Dr. José Eleuterio González, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México.

Introduction: Although the use of ultrasound for the insertion of central catheters has proven to be cost-effective in adults, it is not known if this is the case in the neonatal population. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided umbilical venous catheterisation with conventional catheterisation in a neonatal intensive care unit of a Public University Hospital.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on newborns that required an umbilical venous catheter before completing their first 24hours of extra-uterine life. Read More

Saudi J Anaesth 2019 Apr-Jun;13(2):153-154

Department of Anaesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, India.

Indian Pediatr 2019 Mar;56(3):199-201

Department of Pediatrics, JSS Medical college Hospital, JSS University, MG Road, Mysuru. Karnataka, India.

Objective: To compare the rate of optimal position of UVC between modified Shukla's formula and JSS formula.

Methods: Babies requiring umbilical vein catheterization were randomized to either Shukla or JSS formula group. Post-procedure X-ray was taken to check the tip position. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2019 04 30;40(4):878-879. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Dig Liver Dis 2019 08 6;51(8):1179-1184. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Paediatric Liver, GI and Transplantation, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. Electronic address:

Objectives: Non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a main cause of portal hypertension in children. We describe the characteristics at presentation and outcome of a cohort of patients with PVT to determine clinical features and predictors of outcome.

Methods: We recorded: (1) Associated factors: prematurity, congenital malformations, neonatal illnesses, umbilical vein catheterization (UVC), deep infections, surgery; (2) congenital and acquired prothrombotic disorders; (3) features at last follow up including survival rate and need for surgery. Read More

Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 2019 Mar;80(3)

Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Urologist, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Bristol Royal Children's Hospital, Bristol BS2 8BJ.

Indian Pediatr 2019 02;56(2):149

Department of Neonatology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.