Migration of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs) has been described anecdotally.

The aim of this paper was to investigate migration of UVCs using ultrasonography (US).

In a prospective observational study, the position of UVCs was determined using serial US within 24 h, at midweek, and at the end of the week after umbilical catheterization.

Migration was recorded in distance and direction. Malposition was defined as a position of the UVC in the heart (right atrium or more distal along the UVC-route), umbilicoportal confluence, or in the umbilical vein.

UVC position determined by US was compared with chest X-rays (CXRs) when these were performed for standard care within the same period of 1 h.