Equations of Shukla and Ferrara for Determining the Length for an Intravascular Catheter Inserted into an Umbilical Artery or Vein

Goal for umbilical artery catheter: tip between T6 and T10

Parameters:

(1) body weight in kilograms

(2) umbilical artery or vein

length of umbilical artery catheter in cm =

= (3 * (body weight)) + 9

length of umbilical vein catheter in cm =

= (0.5 * (length of the umbilical artery catheter in cm)) + 1 =

= (1.5 * (body weight)) + 5.5 cm

where:

• The text to the figure on page 787 gives the arterial catheter equation as (2.5 * (body weight)) + 9.7.

• The text to the figure on page 787 gives the venous catheter equation as (1.5 * (body weight)) + 5.6.