Normal saline versus heparinized saline solutions to maintain the patency of arterial and central venous catheters

Abstract EN

Objective : The aim is to compare the consequences of flushing the arterial and central venous catheters with normal saline and the use of heparinized saline on its patency by monitoring and blood sampling.

Methods : A randomized double blinded trial was used.

A total of 272 patients were randomized to receive either heparinized saline flush Group A (n=137, 50.4%) or normal saline flush for Group B (n = 135, 49.6 %).

Patients were randomly allocated in two groups by online randomizer.

Data collection occurred over 8-hour intervals for three continuous days on presence of acceptable arterial waveform, arterial backflow and/or central venous backflow.

Results : A total of 272 patients were randomly assigned to the two treatment types.

No statistical significant difference in the measured blockages of these lines between the patients assigned to the two flush solution groups were found, p = 0.651.

However there were slightly more occlusions in femorally inserted arterial lines across patients of Group B, with no significant statistical difference.

Conclusion : Based on our results, there was no evidence that the use of heparinized saline solutions would have better impact in the maintenance of patency for arterial and central venous than using normal saline.

Therefore, the results support the stoppage of using heparinized saline as flush solutions.