The indication to the umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is linked to criteria of severity and gestational age.
Indications for UVC positioning are for example the following:
- newborn with severe asphyxia
- gestational age equal to or less than 28 weeks;
- gestational age equal to or greater than 29 weeks, but with the need for assisted ventilation via orotracheal intubation, or hemodynamic instability, or the need for CPAP with FiO2> 40%, or difficulty in finding peripheral venous access.
