Peripherally inserted central venous catheters: success of scalp-vein access in infants and newborns.

The authors assessed the feasibility of placing peripherally inserted central venous catheters via scalp veins in infants and newborns. In 60 newborns and infants, aged 3 days to 10 months, placement of 62 2-F peripherally inserted central venous catheters was attempted with scalpvein access. The tip location was central in 30 of the 62 catheters (48%) and long peripheral intravenous in 17 (27%); access failed in 15 (24%). Scalp-vein access for peripherally inserted central venous catheters offers a safe and effective alternative route for gaining central venous access in infants and newborns.