Supraventricular tachycardia induced by a peripherally inserted central catheter in a preterm baby

Peripheral insertion of a central catheter is an essential procedure, which is frequently performed in extremely premature babies as well as those that are critically ill. This article reports on the case of a preterm infant who developed supraventricular tachycardia as a consequence of a malpositioned peripherally inserted central catheter in the cardiac chambers.

Ahmed Yousef
Neonatal Clinical Fellow, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham Women's and Children's Foundation NHS Trust
ahmed.yousef3@nhs.net
orcid.org/0000-0001-5009-1631

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Keywords

preterm infant; supraventricular tachycardia (SVT); peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC); arrythmia; patient safety

Key points

This case highlights a rare complication of upper limb PICC line insertion.
Practitioners should be aware of correct insertion techniques and should always examine the vascular route of a PICC line and the PICC tip position to confirm correct placement.
SVT may occur if the tip of the PICC line lies within the heart chambers.

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VOLUME 18 ISSUE 4/JULY 2022

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