Ultrasound Guided Pleural Drainage with the Seldinger Technique Using a Central Venous Catheter

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Introduction: Pigtail catheters are currently recommended for draining pleural effusions.However, specific catheters manufactured for this purpose may not be feasible in resource-limited settings.This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a central venous catheter for treating uncomplicated pleural effusions with point-ofcare ultrasound in children. Methods:The study was a single-center retrospective review of the clinical records of pediatric patients with symptomatic uncomplicated pleural effusion who had underwent bed-side ultrasound guided pleural drainage with a central venous catheter, between 2014 and 2019.Results: We determined 93 patients who had undergone 98 central venous catheter insertions during the study period.The patient's median age was 4.5 years (range, 7 days to 15 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range, 3 to 60 kg).The most underlying cause was cardiovascular surgery.The technical success rate was 95.9% and only 2 (2.2%) complications were observed.Conclusion: Point of care ultrasound guided pleural drainage with a central venous catheter is safe and effective in critically ill children with uncomplicated pleural effusion.