Cold light transillumination as an aid to umbilical catheterisation

Use of transillumination technique is not limited to venous cannulation only!

I read the recent article by Payal et al(1) with great interest. The authors described the use of transillumination by using a cold light source to facilitate venous cannulation in paediatric patients. I applaud the authors for revisiting this technique. However, I would like to mention a few more uses for this technique. The authors only discussed the usefulness of transillumination for venous...

Gluteal skin necrosis after umbilical artery catheterisation.

Three infants are reported who developed gluteal skin necrosis as a result of umbilical arterial catheterisation. It is important to examine the buttocks and back of every baby catheterised, so that early remedial action can be taken.

Infantile aortic aneurysm complicating umbilical arterial catheterisation.

Sciatic palsy after umbilical catheterisation: brief report.

During 1949 and 1950, 38 cases of neonatal sciatic palsy after injection of umbilical vessels were described (Mills 1949. Hudson, McCandless and O’Malley 1950; McFarland 1950). Typically, paralysis was accompanied by ipsilateral discoloration of the buttock skin which progressed to scarring. McFarland (1950) proposed arterial thrombosis as the aetiology. The cause was thought to be mistaking on...

The Light Volume : an aid to