Prevalence of portal vein thrombosis following umbilical catheterization in neonatal period

ABSTRACT

Portal venous thrombosis [PVT] is one of the most common causes of extrahepatic portal hypertension in children that may be occurring following umbilical venous cauterization or omphalities during neonatal period. We investigated the effects of umbilical cauterization during neonatal period on portal vein thrombosis. This study investigated the frequency of thrombosis of portal vein in term or preterm infants following umbilical catheterization by color doppler ultrasound. Fifty neonates who had age range [3.6+ 8days] and birth weights 1250- 4230 gram were recruited for this study and umbilical venous catheters were placed on neonates. All parents of these neonates signed a consent form. Color doppler ultrasound sonography of the portal vein was performed by two expert radiologists within 3 days following umbilical cauterization and serially for at least a period of 6 months intervals up to 3 years [6 times for each case]. Ten children were excluded from the study because of lack of follow up. Forty children completed the study. From total of 40 subjects, portal vein thromboses were detected in two children [1 girl, 1 boy] with age 2.5 and 1.5 years respectively. In these two children, other clinical signs of portal vein thrombosis manifested such as esophageal and stomach varices and splenomegaly confirmed by endoscopy. In all the other children, the physical examinations and ultrasounds were normal during 6 stages. It is recommended that care be exercised during cauterization placement in order to prevent thrombosis of the portal vein from occurring