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The use of heparin and normal saline flushes in neonatal intravenous catheters
M K Paisley1, M Stamper, J Brown
1Neonatal ICU, Children's Hospital, University Hospital, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA.
Purpose:
To compare the effects of heparin versus normal saline flush solutions on the duration of patency of peripheral IV catheters in neonates.
Methods:
A quasi experimental design compared the outcomes in 87 infants who were 32 weeks or greater gestation at birth. Thirty-three received heparin and 54 received normal saline.
Results:
There were 159 starts among the subjects. No statistically significant difference in duration of patency between the groups was found. The duration was significantly longer for term than preterm infants and for insertion in scalp, arm, or hand than for leg or foot.
Conclusions:
Gestational age and site of insertion were the only predictor variables related to duration of patency for IV catheters.