Hepatic Injury: A Possible Complication of Dopamine Infusion Through an Inappropriately Placed Umbilical Vein Catheter

Abstract
A 34-week preterm infant was evaluated for direct hyperbilirubinemia and hepatomegaly at 2 weeks of age. Dopamine had been used in the management of hypotension in the early neonatal period; the drug had been inappropriately infused into the right branch of the portal vein. Ultrasonography of the abdomen at 2 weeks showed mild hepatomegaly and a hypoechoic area in the right lobe of the liver posteriorly. Follow-up ultrasonogram at 3 months showed the liver to be of normal size and echogenicity. Hyperbilirubinemia was resolved by 3 1/2 weeks. No other problems were specifically related to the hepatic injury.

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