Authors

Mª del Carmen Fernández Tuñas, Raquel Prego Boente, Mª Luz Couce Pico, Alejandro Pérez Muñuzuri

Position

Enfermera/o del Servicio de Neonatología del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela.

Contact address

Mª del Carmen Fernández Tuñas. C/ Viceso-Pousada, 25. 15839 Brión (A Coruña).

Contact email: mctunas@mundo-r.com

Abstract

The use of central catheters with peripheral (epicutaneous) insertion has become a routine practice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, due to its easy insertion and the low incidence of complications compared with other central catheters. However, this does not mean that using epicutaneous catheters won’t entail any risks.
In this article, starting with the description of two pleural effusion cases associated with epicutaneous catheter migration, we intend to point out to Neonatal Care Nurses the importance of being extremely watchful and controlling the neonate with an epicutaneous catheter, in order to prevent potential complications.

Keywords:

central cathete; epicutaneous; neonate; intensive care; pleural effusionclinical case

Versión en Español

Título:

Canalización epicutánea en neonatos: una técnica no exenta de riesgos