Aspiration of parenteral nutrition – a previously unreported complication of central venous access in an infant: a case report

The insertion of percutaneous central venous catheters is a common procedure in neonatal intensive care nurseries. Placement of the catheter tip in a large central vein is most desirable. Occasionally, due to difficult venous access, catheter tips are left in places that are less than ideal. Here we present an unusual complication in an infant with a central venous catheter located in a vein of the upper neck.

A female infant with an antenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis was born by emergency caesarean section for fetal bradycardia at 33⁺³ weeks post menstrual age. Her 23 year old mother was G2P1, Hepatitis C positive and on Methadone (90 mg daily). Birth weight was 1450 grams.

Initial examination revealed a complicated gastroschisis with a segment of small bowel atresia. The remainder of her clinical examination was otherwise normal. During the first six weeks of life she had three laparotomies with reduction of her abdominal contents, resection of two atretic segments, end to end anastomoses, iatrogenic small bowel perforation, adhesionolysis and the eventual formation of a divided colostomy. Other complications included two episodes of infection in the laparotomy wound requiring intravenous antibiotics. During this period she had two peripherally inserted central venous lines and multiple peripheral intravenous cannulae.

On day 67 of life, because of short bowel syndrome and intolerance of full enteral feeds of a semi-elemental formula, she was recommenced on parenteral nutrition (120 mL/kg/day) with some nasogastric feeds (60 mL/kg/day). Venous access was extremely difficult to obtain and after two different attempts a 24 French peripherally inserted central venous line (Neocath^®, Vygon, Ecouen) was inserted through a right sided scalp vein. Blood was easily aspirated from the line at the time of insertion. As per our usual practice, the central venous catheter was slowly injected with 0.5 mL of Isovue 300 (Isovue^® 300, Regional Health Care Products Group Medi-Consumabales Pty Ltd, Rosebery) and a radiograph was taken while injecting the dye (Figure 1) [1]. The tip was noted to be in a vessel at the level of the mandible and was deemed to be satisfactory for the infusion of parenteral nutrition. The Radiologists report stated the catheter tip location as the "internal jugular vein".

On day 80 she became unwell with vomiting and fever. She underwent septic evaluation and was commenced on antibiotics. Enteral feeds were stopped and parenteral nutrition was continued via the central venous line. Over the next 20 hours she became increasingly unwell with worsening vomiting, large milky pharyngeal aspirates and episodes of bradycardia. She required frequent oral suctioning and developed an oxygen requirement. She was intubated and ventilated on day 81. Intubation was difficult with copious milky secretions noted. Chest radiograph showed patchy opacification (Figure 2). Secretions from the oropharynx and nares were so copious that her bedding was wet.

It was suspected that the aspirates contained parenteral nutrition and a sample was sent for microscopy and chemistry. The results were consistent with parenteral nutrition.

On stopping the lipids and parenteral nutrition, a dramatic decrease in the oral secretions was noted and they changed from a milky to clear. The central venous line was then removed because of presumed extravasation. Her condition continued to improve and she was extubated on day 84. She has remained well since extubation apart from ongoing problems with short bowel syndrome.

While extravasation is a recognised complication of central venous catheters, to our knowledge this is the first reported case of parenteral nutrition extravasation into the pharynx causing aspiration in an infant. Frequently reported sites of extravasation include the pleural and pericardial cavities [2, 3]. Rarely reported sites of extravasation include the pulmonary parenchyma [4, 5], renal pelvis [6], scrotum [7], retroperitoneal space [8], spinal epidural space [9] and subdural space [10].

This complication might have been prevented by recognising that the tip of the catheter was not in the internal jugular vein. It is difficult to accurately locate the catheter tip with a single view.

When catheters are in unusual positions it may be useful to obtain a second radiograph from a different angle or an ultrasound scan to confirm the positioning of the catheter tip.

Informed consent was obtained from the patient's parents for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.