Frequency and Risk Factors of Portal Vein Thrombosis in Neonate With Umbilical Catheter

The use of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) in the neonatal period may be associated with severe complications including the occurrence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT )(1) The placement of an umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is a common procedure in neonatology and has multiple clinical indications driven by the need for quick and secure access for medication administration. Umbilical venous catheters allow quick access for administering drugs, blood products, fluids and parenteral nutrition to acutely ill neonates; however, they are have many complications. The most common complication is nosocomial sepsis ranging from 3% to 16%, followed by thromboembolism and catheter malposition in the heart, great vessels or portal system(2,3) The diagnosis is made by abdominal Doppler ultrasonography . In the cases with portal venous thrombosis, the location, extent, and size of the thrombus were recorded occlusive was defined by hyperechogenic thrombus replacing the entire lumen and no-flow in color Doppler or Partial which defined by non-occlusive hyperechogenic intraluminal thrombus and persistent stream in color Doppler.(4) A prospective observational study of newborns, who were admitted to the Neonatal intensive care Unit Assiut University Children's Hospital ,neonates who had undergo UVC for any cause between 10/2023 to 9/2024 will enroll in these study with serial ultrasonography of the UVC to determine the incidence and location of thrombi in infants after umbilical catheterization.

All cases included in the study will be evaluated by Birth weight, gender, gestational age, type of catheter, duration of catheter use, types of infused fluids, and location of the catheter tips (UVC), Ultrasound examinations of the liver and spleen including color Doppler imaging of the portal veins, hepatic veins, splenic vein, and superior mesenteric vein will done in the Department of Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging by a radiologist after removal of the catheter and in case of PVT subsequent serial U/S will preformed until clot resolution.