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Insertion of Umbilical Catheter

(Umbilical Line Insertion)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Home | Health Information Center | Procedure & Surgery Fact Sheets | Article

Definition

Reasons for Procedure

Possible Complications

What to Expect

Call Your Child's Doctor

En Español

Definition

Insertion of an umbilical catheter is the placement of a tube into the arteries or vein of a baby's umbilical stump.

Umbilical Cord

Reasons for Procedure

This procedure is done to deliver treatment or take blood samples in newborns. It can lower the number of needle sticks a baby needs. It may be used to:

Remove blood for testing
Monitor blood pressure
Deliver nutrients or medicine
Deliver or exchange blood

Possible Complications

Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Some may be:

Bleeding or blood clots
Infection in the blood
Blockage of blood flow to internal organs or legs
Stroke

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Certain measurements will be taken. This will help to determine how far the catheter is passed into the blood vessels.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia may not be needed. The umbilical stump does not have pain nerves. The child will not feel pain.

Description of the Procedure

The baby’s stomach and umbilical cord will be cleaned. The top part of the stump will have the clamp that was placed right after birth. A cloth will be tied below the clamp, closer to the stomach. The umbilical stump will be removed just above the tie. The catheter will be inserted into the artery or vein of the stump. The catheter will be passed into place.

An x-ray will be taken to make sure the catheter is in the right place. The catheter will be stitched into place. The umbilical stump may also be taped to the belly.

Immediately After Procedure

The baby will be monitored. This includes watching the legs for any change in color and monitoring breathing and heart rate.

How Long Will It Take?

15 to 30 minutes

How Much Will It Hurt?

A baby cannot feel pain through the umbilical cord.

Average Hospital Stay

Length of stay depends on a child's overall health and need for the catheter.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

Staff will take steps to prevent infection in the catheter, such as:

Washing hands and wearing gloves before touching the catheter
Cleaning the catheter with an anesthetic
Looking for signs of infection
Removing the catheter as soon as possible

Treatment will be delivered through the catheter as needed.

At Home

The catheter will likely be removed before going home. There are no special steps that need to be taken after it is removed.

Call Your Child's Doctor

Call your child's doctor if your child is not recovering as expected or your child has:

Signs of infection, such as fever and chills or swelling at the umbilical stump
Pus around the stump

If you think your child has an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org

Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics
http://healthychildren.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca

The Hospital for Sick Children—About Kids Health
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca

References:

Insertion of umbilical vessel catheters. University of Iowa Children’s Hospital website. Available at: https://uichildrens.org/health-library/insertion-umbilical-vessel-catheters. Accessed January 13, 2020.

Umbilical catheter placement and care: Performing. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscoh.... Updated May 5, 2017. Accessed January 13, 2020.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Kari Kassir, MD
Last Updated: 9/11/2020

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