Pediatric i.v. catheters: efficacy of saline flush.

Several studies have demonstrated that normal saline is as effective as dilute heparin flush for maintaining patency of "heparin locks." These studies tended not to include the smallest size IV catheters that are frequently used for pediatric patients. Normal saline was less effective than dilute heparin solution for maintaining function of 24 gauge catheters (n = 120) in this clinical study.