Keywords:
Paediatric, Liver, Vascular, Ultrasound, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Ultrasound-Power Doppler, Venous access, Localisation, Catheters, Embolism / Thrombosis, Trauma, Obstruction / Occlusion
Authors:
J. P. RAMIREZ1, M. X. escovar2; 1Caracas, Distrito Capital/VE, 2Caracas/VE
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-0231
Methods and materials
We used ultrasound evaluation to diagnose the presence of portal system-related complications in these patients.
We studied 45 neonates with umbilical vein catheters who were admitted to the NICU of the MPCH from May to September 2018. They were evaluated by performing serial abdominal ultrasounds,
immediately after catheter placement,
from 1 to 3 days,
from 4 to 7 days and weekly after that.
The follow-up period varied from 2 to 58 days,
with an average of 13 days of evaluation per subject.
The ultrasonographic assessment was performed with the ultrasound equipment "General Electric model Voluson E8" with linear and convex multifrequency transducers.
In this evaluation,
we determined if the distal end of the umbilical vein catheter was in the correct position or if any complications had arisen (portal pneumatosis,
portal thrombosis,
portal vein cavernomatosis,
as well as the presence of hepatic hematomas).
(See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
Additionally,
we recorded the name of the patient,
their gestational age at birth,
gender,
and days of catheterization.
We registered this information.
Finally,
we performed statistical analyses and interpreted the results.
Materials
Equipment: "General Electric model Voluson E8" ultrasound recorder with linear and convex multifrequency transducers and computers.
Statistical analysis
We used Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 for statistical analysis and table confection.
We also used IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 to create contingency tables and to perform Fisher's exact test.