Association between Umbilical Catheters and Neonatal Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the association between umbilical catheters and a composite outcome of mortality or major neonatal morbidity in extremely preterm infants. Study Design Data were abstracted from the Canadian Neonatal Network database for infants born at Results Of 4,623 eligible infants, 820 (17.7%) had no catheters, 1,032 (22.3%) a UVC only, 120 (2.6%) a UAC only, and 2,651 (57.3%) had both catheters. After adjustment for acuity and other potential confounders, umbilical catheters were associated with higher odds of mortality or any major morbidity (UVC vs. no catheter: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.18–1.85; UAC vs. no catheter: aOR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.05–2.63; and both UVC + UAC vs. no catheter: aOR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.79–2.70). Conclusion Most of the infants born at