Effects of umbilical venous catheters on arrhythmia and heart rate variability in premature newborns

Kadir Babaoğlu1, Murat Seringeç2, Gürkan Altun1, Selim Öncel3, Ayşe Engin Arısoy4 1Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Kocaeli, Turkey 2Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Kocaeli, Turkey 3Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Division of Pediatric Infections, Kocaeli, Turkey 4Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Division of Neonatology, Kocaeli, Turkey Summary Aim: Cardiac rhythm abnormalities associated with umbilical venous catheters in newborns are limited to anecdotal case reports. The present study intended to evaluate association between umbilical venous catheter, arrhythmic potential, and changes in heart rate variability. Material and Method: The study consisted of two groups; 26 preterm newborns with a umbilical venous catheter (group 1), and 26 control group without (group 2). The following parameters were recorded prospectively: gender, gestation at birth, birth weight, and clinical assessment scores (SNAP-II and SNAPPE-II). Holter recordings were fitted in all newborns. The heart rate variability study was performed by utilizing time-domain and frequency-domain analyses. Results: The study population consisted of group 1 (30.63±2.67 weeks of gestation) and group 2 (31.60±2.45 weeks of gestation). There was no statistical difference between the two groups for gestational age, birth weight, SNAP-II and SNAPPEII scores. When compared for arrhythmia there was no statistical difference in any parameters between the two study groups. Premature atrial contraction was noted in 11 babies (42.3%) in group 1 and in 7 babies (26.9%) in group 2. Premature ventricular contraction was noted in 3 babies (11.5%) in group 1 and in one baby in group 2. Sinus tachycardia detected in 3 patients in only the group 1. None of the heart rate variability parameters were found to be statistically different between the two groups. Conclusions: Our study reassuringly demonstrated that umbilical venous catheter does not have any significant effect on arrhythmia or heart rate variability in preterm newborns. (Turk Arch Ped 2013; 48: 131-137)