ABSTRACT
This study compared the conventional method of umbilical artery catheter placement
with a side-entry method. Criteria for comparison were: (1) frequency of correct placement;
(2) time required for placement; and (3) incidence of bleeding. Newborn infants less
than 3 hours of age who required placement of a umbilical artery catheter were admitted
into the study with parental consent. The sample size was 32 catheter attempts (16
conventional method and 16 side-entry method). The side-entry method resulted in more
successful catheter placements and required less time without incidence of bleeding.
With the conventional method, there were five failures to place the catheter and three
incidents of bleeding, resulting in a total blood loss of 14 cc.
