What are common complications associated with prolonged umbilical catheter use in neonates?

• A. Infection, thrombosis, vessel injury, and organ ischemia; monitor lines and remove promptly when no longer needed.
• B. Only infection.
• C. No complications.
• D. Only vascular injury.

Answer: (A)

Prolonged umbilical catheter use exposes the neonate to several interconnected risks because the catheter resides in central circulation and in contact with delicate neonatal vessels. The major issues include infection from the indwelling line, which can lead to bloodstream infection; thrombosis within the umbilical vessels or nearby vascular pathways, potentially affecting blood flow to various organs; vessel injury from the catheter itself, which can cause perforation or dissection and disturb normal circulation; and organ ischemia from reduced or disrupted blood flow to organs such as the liver, bowel, or kidneys. Because these risks can occur together, careful line care, vigilant monitoring for signs of infection or compromised perfusion, and removing the line as soon as it’s no longer needed are essential. Other options that mention only one aspect fail to capture the full range of complications associated with prolonged use.