Abstract
Peripheral arterial catheters are often used in critically ill infants either to avoid umbilical arterial lines or because the umbilical arterial lines were removed. Peripheral arteries tend to have vasospasm, and in adults papaverine has been used as a potent vasodilator for catheter related arterial vasospasm. Griffin and Siadaty report a randomized trial to evaluate papaverine for maintenance of peripheral arterial catheters in preterm infants. Such a use for papaverine is unusual and its safety or efficacy has not been evaluated in term or preterm infants. Papaverine did prolong catheter patency without increasing complications. However, the authors caution about its use soon after birth when the risk of IVH is high. Fortunately, the need for prolonged arterial access is unusual in preterm infants. However, if prolonged catheter use is contemplated, papaverine may help. Papaverine prolongs patency of peripheral arterial catheters in neonatesThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 146Issue 1PreviewTo test the hypothesis that the continuous infusion of papaverine-containing solutions in peripheral arterial catheters would decrease the catheter failure rate and increase the functional duration of the catheter in neonates. Full-Text PDF
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