Novel Umbilical Catheter Securement and Protection Device for Umbilical Line Securement during Laparotomy

Objective: Umbilical catheter malposition rate is high. We compared a Novel Umbilical Securement Device (NUSD) to standard methodologies for neonatal invasive care unit patients undergoing laparotomy.Study design: Retrospective study was performed on infants undergoing laparotomy from April 2019 to January 2023. Two neonatologists compared position of umbilical arterial catheter/umbilical venous catheter (UVC) on perioperative chest X-ray (CXRs) in patients with or without NUSD.Results: Eighteen patients underwent laparotomy, of which 8 patients had NUSD (9 lines) and 10 patients did not (14 lines). In NUSD group, mean gestational age was 37 +/- 4 weeks and mean birth weight was 2.3 +/- 0.9 kg compared with 31 +/- 8 weeks and 2.1 +/- 1.4 kg in non-NUSD group, respectively. The mean age at surgery was 5 +/- 7 and 5 +/- 3 days, respectively. No malposition was seen in NUSD group, while 57% of UVCs (28% of lines) were malpositioned postoperatively in non-NUSD group (p = 0.048).Conclusion: NUSD is an umbilical catheter securement device with low malposition rate, specifically during perioperative period with heightened risk for dislodgement.