Long Term Follow up of Neonatal Internal Jugular Vein Catheterization: Patency and Thrombosis

Maintaining a vascular access is a common procedure in neonates specifically for those who need prolonged hospitalization or intensive care support. This situation may happen several times among those with complex congenital anomalies therefore patency of central vein is a major concern at the time of re-cannulation. We evaluate the patency of internal jugular vein after previous open catheterization in this study. All term neonates with documented internal jugular vein catheterization during 2008-2018 were enrolled in our study. Patients were fallowed for more than a year after catheter removal and internal jugular vein (IJV) patency was assessed by Doppler ultrasound. 87 neonates were undergone central venous catheterization while just 18 were participated in our study protocol successfully. Mean age at the time of catheterization was 16.22±8.14 days. Doppler ultrasound assessment was arranged meanly 29.2±6.53 months after catheter removal. Doppler ultrasound studies revealed normal patency in 38.9%, stenotic in 27.8% and occluded in 33.3% of cases. Mean age of catheterization was significantly lower in occluded IJV group while no meaningful correlation was detected between venous thrombosis and patient gender or catheter maintenance time. IJV occlusion rate was not related to the indication of catheterization It is necessary to keep in mind the probability of IJV thrombosis and occlusion among those patients with the history of early neonatal ICU admission and CV catheterization. Ultrasound evaluation could be helpful while re-cannulation will be the best option for those with patent IJV to save the contra lateral venous patency.