Ultrasound Guided Pleural Drainage with the Seldinger Technique Using a Central Venous Catheter

Introduction:Pigtail catheters are currently recommended for draining pleural effusions. However, specific catheters manufactured for this purpose may not be feasible in resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a central venous catheter for treating uncomplicated pleural effusions with point-of-care ultrasound in children.Methods:The study was a single-center retrospective review of the clinical records of pediatric patients with symptomatic uncomplicated pleural effusion who had underwent bed-side ultrasound guided pleural drainage with a central venous catheter, between 2014 and 2019.Results:We determined 93 patients who had undergone 98 central venous catheter insertions during the study period. The patient’s median age was 4.5 years (range, 7 days to 15 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range, 3 to 60 kg). The most underlying cause was cardiovascular surgery. The technical success rate was 95.9% and only 2 (2.2%) complications were observed.Conclusion:Point of care ultrasound guided pleural drainage with a central venous catheter is safe and effective in critically ill children with uncomplicated pleural effusion.