ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade as complications of neonatal long lines: are they really a problem?

K Beardsall¹, D K White¹, E M Pinto², A W R Kelsall¹

¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rosie Maternity, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
² Centre for Applied Medical Statistics, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr K Beardsall, Neonatal Unit, Rosie Maternity, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK;
k.beardsall{at}btinternet.com

Aim: To estimate the frequency of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade associated with the use of neonatal percutaneous long lines (PLLs) over the past five years.

Method: A retrospective nationwide postal survey, of all neonatal and special care units in the United Kingdom.

Results: Eighty two cases of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade were reported from the five year period, during which we estimate that 46 000 PLLs were inserted. The calculated frequency of pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade occurring with PLLs was 1.8/1000 lines. There were 30 deaths, giving a fatality rate after pericardial effusion of 0.7/1000 lines.

Conclusions: Pericardial effusion/cardiac tamponade is a serious but infrequent complication of PLL use.

Keywords: percutaneous long line; pericardial effusion; cardiac tamponade

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