Establishing Carotid Seldinger as Routine Access in Infants; Planning, Performance, and Follow-Up Protocols

Percutaneous carotid access (PCA) in infants has been reported in small multicenter cohorts, case reports and wider studies over the last 20 years. Compare outcomes after implementation of a systematic approach to PCA in a single center including an imaging follow-up protocol. Retrospective case–control study of PCA at Children’s Hospital Colorado was performed from January 2013 to December 2022. Seventy-four patients underwent 82 PCAs for cardiac catheterization. The median age (range) was 14 days (1–359), and weight was 3.25-kg (1.9–7.9). Median sheath size was 4-Fr (3.3–6). Seventy-seven interventions performed included PDA stenting, aortic valvoplasty, BTT shunt stenting, and coarctation stenting. Vascular access was performed using a modified 21 g butterfly needle. A protocolized approach was implemented in 2020 reversing the patient head-to-toe orientation on the catheterization table, maintaining intubation and sedation for 4-h during recovery and routine use of a specific vascular ultrasound protocol. Following these changes, time to access significantly improved with no major complications. Before 2020, two access related complications occurred. One requiring surgical vascular repair and one occlusive thrombus. A significant increase in sheath time in post-era was associated with increased case complexity. Longer sheath times were not associated with increased risk of vessel injury or thrombus. No neurological insults were reported. Our experience confirms that PCA is safe and achievable with preserved vessel patency regardless of patient weight or sheath size. A protocolized planning, recovery, and follow-up regimen is recommended to establish safe practice and identify and treat complications as necessary.