Prevention of umbilical artery catheter clots with heparinized infusates.
49 neonates requiring umbilical artery catheters (UACs) were randomly assigned to receive standard or heparin-containing infusates. 3 of 23 (13%) of the patients receiving heparin had catheters removed because they became functionally occluded compared to 15 of 26 (58%) in the control group (p less than 0.005). 4 of 13 (31%) single injection aortograms obtained in control infants demonstrated thrombi, compared to none of 7 in the heparin group. 1 patient in the heparin group had an aortic clot demonstrated at post-mortum examination. There were neither clinical coagulopathies nor abnormalities of partial thromboplastin time attributable to the administration of heparinized fluids. Heparinization of UAC infusates appears to be a safe method of reducing the risk of catheter occlusion. Heparin effect on large vessel clot risk remains unproven.
D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries
D006493:Heparin