Description  

A male infant was delivered spontaneously at 29+3 weeks and transferred to the local neonatal unit for uplift in care. This included 24 hours of ventilation, 12 hours of dobutamine and placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for total parenteral nutrition (TPN). By 24 hours he was extubated onto Optiflow at 6 L/min and Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO₂) of 0.21. Expressed breastmilk was commenced whilst awaiting PICC placement.

A 22G 80 mm Leaderflex PICC was aseptically inserted on day 2 into the right antecubital fossa. The line did not bleed but flushed easily. A 0.9% sodium chloride infusion was commenced whilst awaiting confirmation of line position. Chest X-ray showed the PICC projected over the subclavian vein with mild residual airspace shadowing in both lungs (figure 1). The PICC position was felt to be acceptable when the X-ray was reviewed prospectively and retrospectively.