Summary

The ease of access and advantages of a secure central line makes use of umbilical venous catheter (UVC) and umbilical artery catheters a part of the standard of care in the extremely premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. However, there are complications associated with their use. One of the uncommon complications reported is total parenteral nutrition (TPN) ascites secondary to vessel perforation or hepatic erosion by the tip of the catheter due to malposition of a UVC. We present here a case of such catheter perforation causing ascites and right hepatic collection of TPN in a 28-week-old infant. Abdominal paracentesis was therapeutic by relieving the distension as well as confirming the presence of parenteral nutrition in the peritoneal cavity.