Neonatal central venous catheter-associated thrombosis: a narrative review of the literature

BACKGROUND: The application of a central venous catheter is an indispensable measure in neonatal intensive care units. Its use is associated with risk of thrombosis, which is the main cause of this complication in neonates. OBJECTIVE: To perform a narrative review of the current evidence and information available on this complication, and to identify possible sources of information for future research. METHODOLOGY: Search in different databases with the descriptors: blood coagulation, thrombosis, embolism and catheters published in Spanish and English. Thirty-six articles were selected. RESULTS: Central venous catheter-associated thrombosis is a complication associated with the placement of a catheter in the vascular lumen. The worldwide incidence and prevalence of this complication in neonates has been little studied due, in part, to the difficulty in estimating the severity of the problem. In general, signs and symptoms depend on the location of the thrombus, despite the variability in the clinical picture and the fact that most thrombi associated with a central venous catheter are silent. Fibrinolytics (urokinase and alteplase) are indicated for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Complications arising from the application of central venous catheters, despite being a common technique, have not been fully studied and therefore their treatment in neonates is not standardized.