Radiographic assessment of catheters in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Intravascular catheters are widely used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The major types of intravascular access in the newborn are peripheral catheters, venous or arterial umbilical catheters, central venous catheters and peripherally-inserted central venous catheters (PICC). Anomalous positioning of catheters, especially umbilical catheters, is quite frequent as their installation is without imaging guidance. The radiographic assessment of the catheter performed by pediatricians and/or radiologists, who must be able to recognize those poorly positioned as they can cause serious complications, is essential. This article contains a sample of correct and misplaced catheter x-ray often used in a NICU.