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A randomized trial of heparin and saline for maintaining intravenous locks in neonates
J Heilskov1, C Kleiber, K Johnson
1University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Purpose:
To determine the effects of saline, heparin 2 units (U) per ml saline, and heparin 10 U/ml saline flush solutions on the duration of intravenous (i.v.) locks and the incidence of i.v. infiltration in neonates.
Design:
Randomized double-blind experiment.
Setting:
Tertiary-care nursery.
Participants:
Neonates (N = 90) hospitalized at birth in the intensive, intermediate care, or newborn units.
Main Outcome Measures:
Total hours from the time the i.v. was inserted to the time the i.v. was removed; hours from the time the i.v. was first flushed to the time the i.v. was removed; number of i.vs. removed because of infiltration.
Results:
No statistical or clinical differences between the three groups for duration of i.v. nor for incidence of complications.
Conclusions:
The use of heparin in i.v. lock flush solution did not affect the duration of i.v. locks nor the incidence of infiltration in neonates.