title: Heparin and infusion phlebitis: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether heparin sodium, when added to fluids infused through a peripheral catheter, reduces some local catheter-related problems (i.e., phlebitis, catheter obstruction, and extravasation of fluid) and extends the catheter's useful life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Internal medicine ward of a general hospital with 400 beds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one consecutive acute collaborating patients who had a venous catheter in the forearm, inserted by nurses with more than one year of professional experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heparin sodium 1000 units/mL or NaCl 0.9% was added to compatible infusion fluids just before they were given to the patients. The final concentration of heparin was 1 unit/mL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Length of time until catheters were removed and reasons for their removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The heparin group had a lower rate of local catheter-related problems than the placebo group (34.3 vs. 61.5 percent, respectively, p less than 0.05; 95 percent confidence interval for the difference 4.3 to 50.1 percent). The catheter's mean life in the heparin group was longer than that of placebo group (98.9 +/- 55.2 vs. 66.2 +/- 47.2 h, respectively, p less than 0.05; 95 percent confidence interval for the difference 9.15 to 56.25 h). This effect was mainly attributable to prevention of noninflammatory catheter-related problems (e.g., obstruction, extravasation) and to a delay in the appearance of phlebitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heparin sodium, when added to infusion fluids to a final concentration of 1 unit/mL, diminishes local intravenous catheter-related problems and extends the catheter's life.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Virgen de la Luz, Cuenca, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nieto-Rodriguez
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcìa-Martìn
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barreda-Hernandez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hervàs
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cano-Real
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin