[Central venous placement of silastic catheters by recording of an intravascular ECG--a prospective study in 50 premature infants weighing less than 1000 g].

In a prospective study 50 central venous silastic catheters were inserted in premature infants weighing less than 1000 g. The position of the catheter tip was checked by recording the intravascular ECG via catheter. All infants were successfully catheterized. The ECG-method proved to be very reliable. Corresponding radiological or ultra-sonographic investigation demonstrated a satisfactory position of the catheter tip in 45 of the infants. The remaining five catheters went into an ideal position close to the superior vena cava-right atrium junction by withdrawing 1-2.5 cm. There were no side effects specific to the ECG-method. The additional use of a diagram concerning the length of introduction given in the text at hand should make X-ray-control unnecessary. We conclude that the ECG-method can be used safely and is of advantage in extremely low birthweight infants.