Abstract
OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effectiveness of peripheral central catheterization by comparing the modified Seldinger technique and the conventional technique in critically ill newborns. METHODS: randomized unmasked clinical trial conducted in a public children's hospital. Participation of 111 newborns with randomized allocation, 56 in the control group (conventional technique) and 55 in the experimental group (modified Seldinger). Success and absence of complications were evaluated as primary outcomes. The pain scale, difficulty in hemostasis, procedure time and number of punctures were considered secondary outcomes. RESULTS: there was no statistical significance between groups, either for success (p=0.705) or absence of complications (p=0.347). A lower pain score, improved hemostasis, increased assertiveness with fewer punctures and reduced procedure time were not observed in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: the modified Seldinger technique did not prove to be a more effective insertion technology compared to the conventional method. Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry: RBR-69vks36.