Letter to the Editor

Abstract

The concerns raised by Dr Kitterman regarding potential inaccuracies of and risks related to umbilical venous catheterization are true and well stated. Indeed, the authors have great respect for the points he makes.

Nonetheless, it is still the case that arterial oxygen tension is an indirect and a potentially misleading indicator of the adequacy of oxygenation in newborn patients. Although the placement of such catheters is associated with significant risks, these risks are at most comparable to and may in fact be significantly less than those associated with umbilical artery catheterization.