False aneurysm of the descending aorta: a complication of umbilical artery catheterization
J. G. Spangler, F. Kleinberg, R. E. Fulton, D. A. Barnhorst and D. G. Ritter
A patient had an aneurysm of the descending aorta secondary to aortitis
arising from umbilical artery catheterization and in association with
coarctation of the aorta. The aortitis probably was the direct result of
bacterial contamination of the umbillicus and catheter with Staphylococcus
aureus and the placement of the catheter tip just distal to a coarctation
of the aorta. The patient required surgical resection of the coarctation
and aneurysm of the descending aorta and placement of a tubular Dacron
graft at 6 month of age. This is, to our knowledge, a hitherto unreported
complication of umbilical artery catheterization.
