Acute Cardiorespiratory Deterioration in a Preterm Infant.

C A S E A 31 and 1/7–week gestation premature male infant with a birth weight of 1730 g developed sudden onset of desaturations (oxygen saturation 30%), bradycardia (heart rate 40/min) and hypotension (mean blood pressure,15 mm Hg) at 6 days of age. He was born by a cesarean delivery for maternal preeclampsia, received nasal continuous positive airway pressure for 3 days after birth, and was in room air at the time of the acute event. On day 2 of life, a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) (L-Cath PICC Polyurethane catheter, 28 GA/1.2 F; Argon Medical Devices, Inc. Athens, TX) was inserted through the basilic vein in the right antecubital fossa to provide total parenteral nutrition. Catheter tip was located at the right atrium/superior vena cava (SVC) junction.