| Sumario: | Introduction: Although the use of ultrasound for the insertion of central catheters has proven
to be cost-effective in adults, it is not known if this is the case in the neonatal population.
This study compared the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided umbilical venous catheterisation
with conventional catheterisation in a neonatal intensive care unit of a Public University
Hospital.
Patients and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on newborns that
required an umbilical venous catheter before completing their first 24 h of extra-uterine life.
Two retrospective cohorts were formed, including one with ultrasound-guided catheterisation
and the other with conventional catheterisation. The effectiveness was measured using 2 variables:
placement of ideal position and insertion without complications. The cost of human
and material resources (consumable and non-consumable), the cost-effectiveness ratio, and
the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were estimated, as well as carrying out a sensitivity
analysis.
Results: Catheter obstruction was more frequent in guided catheterisation than in conventional
catheterisation (7.7% vs. 0%, P = .04) and catheter dysfunction was higher in the latter
(79% vs. 3.8%, P < .0001). The cost-effectiveness ratio of the guided catheterisation was
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