Parenteral nutrition infused by epicutaneous catheter: pulmonary complication.

We present three preterm infants with pulmonary complications due to central venous silicone catheters malpositioned in the left or right pulmonary artery. One infant developed an arterial-bronchial fistula. The other two infants had pneumonitis without evidence of vessel perforation. The course of these complications was good after the catheter was withdrawn into the superior vena cava.