title: Heparin for prolonging peripheral intravenous catheter use in neonates: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of heparinized saline administered as intermittent flush on functional duration of the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) in neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Term and preterm neonates born at >32 weeks of gestation who required PIVC only for intermittent administration of antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible neonates were randomized to receive 1 ml of either heparinized saline (10 U ml(-1)) (n=60) or normal saline (n=60) every 12 h before and after intravenous antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional duration of first peripheral intravenous catheter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 120 neonates were randomized to two groups of 60 neonates each. The mean (s.d.) of age of babies in case and control group was 5.7 (2.5) days and 4.6 (3.1) days, respectively. The average weight of babies in both the groups was 2.1 kg. Mean functional duration of first catheter was more in heparinized saline group, mean (s.d.) of 71.68 h  (27.3) as compared with 57.7 h (23.6) in normal saline group (P<0.005). The mean (95% confidence interval) difference in functional duration in the two groups was 13.9 h (4.7-23.15). Mean duration of patency for any catheter was also significantly more in heparinized saline group than control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heparinized saline flush increases the functional duration of peripheral intravenous catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, India.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Government Medical College, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: D
authors.identifier: 000000018458037X
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sreenivas
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006493:Heparin