Abstract

CASTRO LOPEZ, Frank. Beneficios del catéter epicutáneo en el recién nacido. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.2, pp. 1-1. ISSN 1561-2961.

In order to show the benefits of the use of the epicutaneous catheter in intensive therapy unit of the neonatology service of "América Arias" Gynecoobstetric Teaching Hospital, a descriptive, cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted aimed at expressing the most important characteristics of the procedure and the epicutaneous catheter technique in a sample of 37 neonates. All the newborn infants that were admitted in the service were included in the study. The methods used were the document and directed observation based on a collection of data recorded in the medical histories. The following data were taken into consideration: gestational age, permanence of the catheter, length stay of the newborn at the service, reason for indication, place of insertion, complications associated with the catheter and reason for removal. It was observed that the epicutaneous catheter was more frequently indicated to neonates with acquired sepsis, congenital bronchopneumonia and with perinatal severe asphyxia. The most punctured place for the catheterization was the upper right limb. Of all the studied newborn infants, 83.7 % did no have complications. The most detected was phlebitis in 3 cases, accounting for 8.1 %. The main reason for removing the catheter was the elective mode in 59.5 %. The average durability of the catheter was 12 days and the average stay of the neonates in the service was 18 days. This study is aimed at contributing to the wider spreading of this procedure and at showing the other neonatology services of the country the experiences attained in relation to the benefits of the epicutaneous catheter in the newborn infants.

Keywords : EPICUTENEOUS CATHETER; NEWBORN INFANT.