Does umbilical vein catheterization lead to portal venous thrombosis?
Department of Radiology, Gachon Medical School, Ghil Medical Center, 1198 Kuwal-Dong Namdong-Gu, Incheon 405-220, Korea. kimjh@ghil.com PURPOSE: To establish, by means of serial ultrasonography (US), the incidence and natural history of neonatal portal venous thrombosis associated with catheterization of the umbilical vein and to evaluate the potential risk factors predisposing patients to thrombus formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neonates who had undergone umbilical vein catheterization were studied. US was performed at 2-7-day intervals, before and after the removal of the catheter, until clot resolution or hospital discharge. The presence of portal venous thrombosis and temporal evolution were noted, and various risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: US demonstrated clinically silent portal venous thrombosis in 43 (43%) of 100 neonates. Follow-up US revealed complete or partial resolution in 20 (56%) of 36 babies. A significant (P =.024) correlation was found between the initial size
