Disposable pressure transducer to identify central pressure measurements in umbilical lines for preterm and term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Abstract

Objectives: Assess the feasibility of using a disposable pressure transducer with integrated digital display to differentiate arterial versus venous line placement in neonates.

Study design: Infants ≥23 weeks' gestation with appropriately placed umbilical catheters were enrolled. A single baseline pressure reading was obtained, hypothesizing that arterial placement could be differentiated with a pressure ≥12 mmHg.

Results: Forty-five infants were enrolled to obtain 62 measurements, 31 from both umbilical artery catheters(UAC) and umbilical venous catheters(UVC). 100% of UAC were ≥12 mmHg and 87% of UVC were <12 mmHg. Median device pressures for UAC and UVC were 41 mmHg (IQR 31-45 mmHg) and 5 mmHg (IQR 3-9 mmHg) (p-value < 0.0001). An optimal venous device pressure cut point was determined to be 21 mmHG (97% sensitivity, 100% specificity, AUC 0.98).

Conclusion: This transducer is likely safe and can differentiate line placement in arterial and venous systems. 12 mmHg appears to reliably identify lines placed in the arterial system, but 21 mmHG was found to be the optimal venous cut point.