Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Efficacy of normal saline solution versus heparin solution for maintaining patency of peripheral intravenous catheters in children.
Literature reports support the use of normal saline solution for maintaining patency of peripheral intermittent intravenous infusion devices (PIID) in the adult population; however, there are limited data regarding this policy in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of heparin flush and saline solution flush solutions in maintaining patency of infusion devices in the pediatric population, and to establish cost-saving implications related to both procedures. The specific aims of the study included the following: (1) to determine the efficacy of normal saline solution flush for peripheral i.v. access devices for the pediatric population, and (2) to establish cost-saving implications related to normal saline solution versus heparin flush for PIIDs in terms of pharmacy costs and costs related to nursing time. ⋯ This study provided support for the efficacy of normal saline solution as an alternative to heparin solutions for the maintenance of peripheral i.v. devices. Implications include elimination of risks associated with heparin (drug incompatibilities, thrombosis syndrome, hypersensitivity reactions, local tissue damage, and iatrogenic hemorrhage); decreased potential for infection associated with breaks in the integrity of the i.v. system; substantial money savings as a result of the change to normal saline solution realized by the patient and the institution; and decreased nursing time. By simplifying the procedure, nurses have more time to provide aspects of nursing care to patients.