Catheterization of umbilical vessels is especially useful in emergency situations and in newborn infants of very low birth weight, during the first days of life, in which a constant monitoring is necessary.

The umbilical catheterization indications are:

-Umbilical arterial catheter (UAC):

Immediate access to carry out frequent gasometric extractions.

Invasive of intra-arterial pressure monitoring.

-Umbilical venous catheter (UVC):

Central venous pressure monitoring.

Transfusion fluids and/or medication.

Exchange transfusion.

Venous access in preterm very low weight, until another type of catheter may be placed.

However, like any technique, it is not without risks. Despite its common use, it is not uncommon that we find them in the wrong position, which sometimes triggered severe complications, sometimes not suspected clinically.

It is necessary to know the correct location of these catheters (Fig. 1 ):

UAC to height:

-T6 (T6-T8 rank), to avoid the exit of the of the celiac trunk and patent ductus arteriosus.

- L3-L4 to prevent the exit of the renal arteries.

UVC:

-In IVC (at the height of T9).

-If it is intrahepatic, it should be removed until L1-L2 to be "free-flowing".

The described complications include:

UAC:

Embolism or thrombosis, hemorrhage, infection, and less frequently, ischemia (mesenteric, limb), aneurysm or aortic dissection.

UVC:

Haemorrhage, hematoma, infection, liver necrosis, thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmias, portal hypertension.