Performing central venous catheters in neonates and small infants undergoing cardiac surgery using a wireless transducer for ultrasound guidance: a prospective, observational pilot study

Abstract Background Neonates and small infants with congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery represent major challenges facing paediatric anaesthesia and perioperative medicine. Aims. We here aimed to investigate the success rates in performing ultrasound (US) guided central venous catheter insertion (CVC) in neonates and small infants undergoing cardiac surgery, and to evaluate the practicability and feasibility of thereby using a novel wireless US transducer (WUST). Methods Thirty neonates and small infants with a maximum body weight of 10 kg and need for CVC before cardiac surgery were included in this observational trial and were subdivided into two groups according to their weight: