Catheterization of the posterior tibial artery in the neonate.

Catherization of the posterior tibial artery provides an alternative to cannulation of other arteries. We successfully catheterized this artery 17 times in 15 neonates whose weights ranged from 800 to 3,000 g. The catheters were placed percutaneously 13 times and by cutdown four times, and they remained in place for as long as 12 days (mean, 96 hours). Compromise of distal circulation was found in only two babies, both of whom had had umbilical artery catheters removed because of cyanosis of the toes that had resolved itself prior to posterior tibial artery cannulation. Our patients experienced no short-term complications from this procedure.