RESUMO
We present the results of one prospective study made it to evaluated central percutaneous catheters morbi-mortality in newborns critically sick ingresed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The total of 105 percutaneous catheter put it on in 97 newborns from one total 1554 catheter-days. We found in 53.3% were premature newborns, 74.2% weighted less than 2500 g, the femoral veins was used in 90%. The predominant morbidity at the moment of the colocations was respiratory problems, sepsis and mayor congenital malformation, the 30% the percutaneous catheter was had bacterial colonization when were retired; the catheter infection was 1.2 x 1000 catheter days. Our conclusion are the percutaneous catheter was the prime election to the vein access in the newborn critically stick, with low mortality rate during colocation and permanency, low sepsis incidence by catheter, and less quantity of venopunture stress and veins mutilation.