© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Images in paediatrics
Cold light transillumination as an aid to umbilical catheterisation
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK; vpbals@doctors.org.uk
Keywords: cold light; transillumination; umbilical catheterisation
| The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below. |
A technique using cold light transillumination has been reported for cannulation of peripheral vessels in the newborn.1 Here we show its use in the catheterisation of umbilical vessels. We encountered difficulty in inserting a catheter into a bruised umbilical cord and transillumination helped us to identify the exact pathway of the vessels (see fig). Aseptic technique is maintained by placing the cold light into the finger of a sterile glove. The technique also helps to identify false passage of umbilical catheters. Sterile technique and an extra pair of hands for its usage may limit its use in difficult situations rather than in routine practice.2
|
- Pearce RG. Percutaneous catheterisation of the radial artery in newborn babies using transillumination. Arch Dis Child 1978;53:549–54.
[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Mbamalu D, Banerjee A. Methods of obtaining peripheral venous access in difficult situations. Postgrad Med J 1999;76:459–62.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
- Full Text
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in ADC Online
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
