[250 central venous silastic catheters in premature infants less than 1.500 g. A clinical study of technique and complications].

250 central venous catheters were inserted percutaneously in premature infants weighing less than 1,500 g in a prospective study over a period of five years. The mean catheter life was 25 days. We noted 47 complications (= 1/134 days). The most common complication was phlebitis (9.2%). The risk of phlebitis was highest after inserting catheters through the saphenous vein (60%) and lowest after inserting them through the basilic vein (3.9%). Septicaemia was diagnosed in 15 infants (6%). The incidence of thrombosis was 1.2%. Two infants had cardiac perforation with a resultant pericardial effusion. There were no deaths related to any catheter complication. In 116 catheterizations the position of the catheter was checked by recording the intravascular ECG via catheter. The ECG-method proved to be very reliable.