Intensive care world
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Intensive care world · Jun 1995
Vascular access in neonates and infants--indications, routes, techniques and devices, complications.
Venous cannulation has been in regular use in neonates since the 1940s. This was at first through the umbilical vein, but the frequency of complications lead to other central and peripheral routes being used for infusion of fluid, nutrients and drugs. Today, peripheral venous access is preferred except for high volume fluid resuscitation, reliable infusion of irritant drugs and long-term parenteral nutrition. ⋯ Distal hypoperfusion may follow arterial cannulation. Modern emergency and intensive care paediatrics is impossible without adequate venous and arterial vascular access. However no other skill for neonatal intensive care causes more anxiety in primary care providers or is more difficult to teach.