OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of continuous, low-dose heparin infusion in prolonging peripheral venous catheter patency in neonates. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Level III neonatal intensive-care unit. PARTICIPANTS: 113 neonates requiring i.v. therapy. INTERVENTIONS: The neonates were randomly assigned to heparin (n = 63). The heparin group received 1/2 unit of heparin per milliliter of continuous intravenous infusate or intermittent heparin flush. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Low-dose heparin infusion does not make a difference in the duration of peripheral venous catheter patency. The incidence of catheter-related complications in the heparin group is the same as for those receiving no heparin. RESULTS: The mean duration of catheter patency was 62.75 hours in the heparin group and 27.3 hours in the no-heparin group (p = .0001). The occurrence of infection, bleeding, and extravasation injury was zero in the sample studied. The incidence of phlebitis was 18 cases in 132 (13%) in the heparin group and 13 cases in 122 (10%) in the no-heparin group. According to chi-square analysis, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p greater than .05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose heparin infusion in peripheral venous catheters in neonates increased the duration of intravenous catheter patency (p = .0001) without increased risks of bleeding, infection, phlebitis, or extravasation injury.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of continuous, low-dose heparin infusion in prolonging peripheral venous catheter patency in neonates. DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study. SETTING: Level III neonatal intensive-care unit. PARTICIPANTS: 113 neonates requiring i.v. therapy. INTERVENTIONS: The neonates were randomly assigned to heparin (n = 63). The heparin group received 1/2 unit of heparin per milliliter of continuous intravenous infusate or intermittent heparinflush. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Low-dose heparin infusion does not make a difference in the duration of peripheral venous catheter patency. The incidence of catheter-related complications in the heparin group is the same as for those receiving no heparin. RESULTS: The mean duration of catheter patency was 62.75 hours in the heparin group and 27.3 hours in the no-heparin group (p = .0001). The occurrence of infection, bleeding, and extravasation injury was zero in the sample studied. The incidence of phlebitis was 18 cases in 132 (13%) in the heparin group and 13 cases in 122 (10%) in the no-heparin group. According to chi-square analysis, the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p greater than .05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose heparin infusion in peripheral venous catheters in neonates increased the duration of intravenous catheter patency (p = .0001) without increased risks of bleeding, infection, phlebitis, or extravasation injury.