PED Flashcards
PED
A neonate has an umbilical venous catheter inserted. On an abdominal X-ray, it has advanced up to the level of T10 at the midline. In which structure is the tip of the catheter?
A. Left portal vein
B. Right portal vein
C. Ductus venosus
D. Superior mesenteric vein
E. Splenic vein
C. Ductus venosus
The single umbilical vein extends from the umbilicus to the left portal vein. When blood from the umbilical vein reaches the left portal vein, it is directed to the ductus venosus, which originates from the left portal vein immediately opposite the insertion site of the umbilical vein and courses cephalad to the inferior vena cava. The preferred location of the tip of the umbilical venous catheter is typically in the cephalad portion of the inferior vena cava or at the inferior vena caval-right atrial junction.
An umbilical venous catheter can be distinguished from an umbilical arterial catheter as the UVC travels cranially in the umbilical vein while the UAC travels caudally in an umbilical artery to reach a common iliac artery.
