Using a central venous catheter for moni toring venous pressure or for extended in travenous feeding is safe and can be life preserving. A peripheral cutdown is best for catheter insertion with newborns and in fants. Percutaneous placement through a peripheral vein or via subclavian puncture is advised only with children old enough to have adequately large veins. Care must be taken to place the catheter properly and to prevent the complications of air embolism, catheter embolization, fluid extravasation, inadvertent removal, thrombosis and infec tion.
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