Pollack and Roloff modified the method of Dunn for estimating the length to insert an umbilical arterial catheter. The authors are from the University of Michigan.
Parameters:
(1) vertical distance in cm between a horizontal line connecting the shoulders and a horizontal line through the umbilicus
(2) factor based on weight of the infant at birth in kg. This consisted of rounding the weight up to the next 0.5.
(3) length of the cord in cm
length of the umbilical arterial catheter to insert in cm =
= (vertical distance between the horizontal lines in cm) + (factor) + (length of cord)
|
Birth Weight in kg |
Factor |
|
0 to 0.50 |
0.5 |
|
0.51 to 1.00 |
1.0 |
|
1.01 to 1.50 |
1.5 |
|
1.51 to 2.00 |
2.0 |
|
2.01 to 2.50 |
2.5 |
|
2.51 to 3.00 |
3.0 |
|
3.01 to 3.50 |
3.5 |
|
3.51 to 4.00 |
4.0 |
|
4.01 to 4.50 |
4.5 |
|
4.51 to 5.00 |
5.0 |
|
5.01 to 5.50 |
5.5 |
|
5.51 to 6.00 |
6.0 |
Performance:
• Almost 88% of catheter tips were placed at the desired high position at T7 to T9.
• All infants with body length <= 35 cm had acceptable placement.
Limitations:
• Measuring the shoulders can be a problem if the infant is in motion (see reply by Dr Rosenfeld).
Specialty: Cardiology, Emergency Medicine, Pulmonology
ICD-10: ,
