We compared the complications of ultrasound (US)-guided versus percutaneously inserted central venous catheters in newborn infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We retrospectively reviewed the records of full-term and preterm neonates who needed US-guided and percutaneously inserted central venous catheters (PICCs). They were divided into two groups. Newborn infants in the first group had US-guided catheters, while the second group had PICCs. We compared catheter complications between the two patient groups. Sixty-six patients were enrolled, with 36 patients in Group 1 and 30 patients in Group 2. Mean gestational age was 30.3 weeks in Group 1 and 27.9 weeks in Group 2. Mean birth weight was 1653.72 g in Group 1 and 945.67 g in Group 2. There was a significant difference (p<0.001) between the two groups. Duration of indwelling catheter (mean) was 21.61 days in Group 1 and 8.36 days in Group 2, and there was a significant difference (p<0.001) between the two groups. Catheter-related infection was found in 9 patients in Group 1 and in 1 patient in Group 2. There were no differences between the two groups regarding respiratory arrest in attempts at insertion of catheter and bleeding from catheter. We compared the complications of US–guided central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central venous catheters in newborn infants who were observed in the NICU. This retrospective study showed that US–guided central venous catheters used in high-risk hospitalized patients were associated with a much higher rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections (25% versus 0.3%) than with peripherally inserted central venous catheters.

Keywords: yenidoğan bebek, ultrasonografi, santral kateter, periferik santral kateter, katetere bağlı enfeksiyon