We describe a 9-day-old baby with coarctation of the aorta who required urgent resuscitation including intubation and cardiac compressions. Despite the commencement of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to reopen the ductus arteriosus via the intraosseous route, postductal saturations remained unrecordable for a further 45 min. Within 3 min of administration of PGE1 via an umbilical venous catheter (UVC), saturations were recordable at 92%. UVC access was the sentinel intervention that irrevocably altered the clinical prognosis. This baby boy has survived with excellent neurodevelopmental outcome. Clinicians are less familiar with UVCs outside of the newborn period. Our data demonstrate successful placement in neonates up to 28 days of age. We hope this case encourages clinicians to consider the UVC as first-line central venous access in collapsed neonates. In cases of suspected left heart obstruction, we argue that UVCs are the optimal route.

Aim Safe tip placement of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) in sick neonates is critical in minimising risk. We aimed to demonstrate the utility of clinician‐performed ultrasound (CPU) in identifying UVCs that are placed within small intrahepatic portal vessels or within the heart despite the appearance of being well placed on X‐ray. Methods This was a retrospective observational study of preterm and term neonates who had a UVC placed and the position assessed by X‐ray and/or CPU according to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) guideline. Cases were identified by exporting the records of all admissions between 1 April 2015 and 30 June 2016 from the NICU's data collection database. Paper‐based medical records, NICU's data collection database records and the ultrasound reporting system were reviewed to determine X‐ray and CPU findings. Results A total of 157 neonates had 169 UVCs placed. CPU was performed in 77% (111). In 15 cases (14%), UVC placement on X‐ray appeared appropriate based on estimated vertebral level; however, CPU demonstrated the line to be in an unsafe position (small intrahepatic portal vessel (3); right atrium (9); left atrium (3)). Conclusions Assessment of safe UVC placement by estimations according to vertebral level on X‐ray alone is inadequate. CPU offers confident localisation of the UVC tip and enables corrective manipulation of intracardiac or intrahepatic UVCs in real time. We recommend CPU as an adjunct to X‐ray to ensure safe UVC placement.