Neonatal aortic thrombosis complicating umbilical artery catheterization: successful treatment with retroperitoneal aortic thrombectomy.

A newborn infant with a history of umbilical artery catheterization had renal vascular hypertension and congestive heart failure. An abdominal ultrasound examination revealed aortic thrombosis extending from the celiac axis to the aortic bifurcation. Retroperitoneal aortic thrombectomy was performed without difficulty. The infant's hypertension and cardiac failure resolved. The retroperitoneal approach allowed excellent exposure of the aorta and avoided the postoperative gastrointestinal morbidity associated with a transperitoneal approach.