Broviac central venous catheters inserted via the saphenous or femoral vein in the NICU under local anesthesia.

We present our experience with 92 Broviac central venous catheters inserted into 84 infants over a 31-month period. Our technique specifies placement in the neonatal intensive care unit under local anesthesia, with insertion to the inferior vena caval-atrial junction via the saphenous or femoral vein, with a subcutaneous tunnel to an exist site on the anterior thigh. We conclude this technique to be safe, efficient, convenient, cost-effective, and minimally uncomfortable to the infant, with no increase in morbidity or mortality in comparison to previously described methods.