Paeds Vivas · investigations-procedures-and-technology
Umbilical venous and arterial catheterisation — branching viva
A branching viva following one sick preterm infant from the decision to place umbilical venous and arterial catheters, through the vessel anatomy and courses, the Shukla birth-weight depth formula, the high and low arterial positions with the high preferred, the venous target at the diaphragm, and the radiographic confirmation of the tip, to the recognition and management of a white limb, renal artery thrombosis with hypertension, and line sepsis, with the dwell-time limits of five days for arterial and fourteen days for venous catheters.
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Target exams
Branching cross-examination
This is a MedVellum formative viva. It is not an official RACP, MRCPCH, ABP, ACGME or RCPSC station, mark scheme, duration or pass standard. Release each update only after the candidate states the principle, the position, and the safeguard. [1] [9]
Candidate brief
You are the paediatric registrar in the neonatal unit caring for a sick preterm infant who needs umbilical venous and arterial catheters. Speak as you would at the bedside when placing and then monitoring the lines. State the anatomy, the formula, the position, and the safeguard at each step. This is one continuous case. Each escalation branch leads to the next update. [1]
You have read the opening of this viva. The complete unit — every section and its primary-source references — is part of the Paediatrics Fellowship fellowship atlas.
References5Show ledgerHide ledger
- [1]Shukla H; Ferrara A Rapid estimation of insertional length of umbilical catheters in newborns American journal of diseases of children (1960), 1986.PMID 3728405
- [6]Levit OL; Shabanova V; Bizzarro MJ Umbilical catheter-associated complications in a level IV neonatal intensive care unit Journal of perinatology, 2020.PMID 31911645
- [7]Barrington KJ Umbilical artery catheters in the newborn: effects of position of the catheter tip The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000.PMID 10796375
- [9]Marshall M Radiographic assessment of umbilical venous and arterial catheter tip location Neonatal network, 2014.PMID 24985114
- [11]Lin YJ; Liu YC; Huang HC; et al Echocardiographic determination of umbilical catheter tip location mitigates complications: a randomised controlled trial Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025.PMID 41300627