The impact of femoral/internal jugular vein selection on postoperative infection in central vein cannulation of newborns undergoing cardiac surgery

In the low-weight newborn patient group, the development of catheter related bloodstream infections after cardiac surgery significantly impacts morbidity and mortality. In our study, the effects of choosing femoral or internal jugular vein localization in newborns on postoperative infection will be examined. Our hypothesis is that there may be a higher risk of catheter related bloodstream infections in the femoral region. This study was conducted retrospectively on newborn cases who underwent congenital heart surgery between September 1, 2020, and March 1, 2022. The cases were divided into 2 groups: those with central catheters inserted in the femoral and in internal jugular veins. Postoperative infection parameters were examined and the results were statistically evaluated. The study was conducted with a total of 201 newborn cases, of which 61.2% (n = 123) were male and 38.8% (n = 78) were female. The age of the cases ranged from 0 to 1 month, with a mean of 12 ± 9 days. Weight measurements ranged from 1.8 to 5.5 kg, with a mean of 3.20 ± 0.66 kg. Central catheters were placed in the femoral vein (FV) region in 71.6% of the babies (n = 144) and in the internal jugular vein region in 28.4% (n = 57). When culture results were examined between postoperative days 3 to 14, blood culture tests were positive in 12.4% (n = 25). The most common bacteria in positive cases were Klebsiella spp. (n = 13) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5). There was no statistically significant difference in blood culture results between the groups (P > .05). Changes in white blood cells, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin measurements between preoperative and postoperative day 3 did not show statistically significant difference between the groups (P > .05). According to the results of our study, the placement of FV and internal jugular vein in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery did not differ in terms of postoperative infection risk. With appropriate sterilization, preventive measures and care considerations, FV or internal jugular vein region may be preferred based on the practitioner's expertise and choice in this patient group.