Direct cost of maintenance of totally implanted central venous catheter patency.
Rafael Fernandes Bel Homo, Antônio Fernandes Costa Lima
PMID 30020336WHAT IT FOUND
Replacing heparin with 0.9% sodium chloride for maintaining implanted central venous catheter patency costs US$ 8.81 per procedure, compared to US$ 9.71 for heparin.
This saves US$ 0.90 per patient visit without requiring extra materials.
Key findings
01The average direct cost of maintaining catheter patency with heparin was US$ 9.71, while the estimated cost using 0.9% sodium chloride was US$ 8.81.
02Using sodium chloride instead of heparin results in a cost reduction of US$ 0.90 per procedure.
03The sodium chloride protocol does not require additional materials and allows for the removal of 20ml syringes and specific ampoules used in the heparin protocol.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The cost for the sodium chloride protocol was estimated by simulation rather than observed directly. The study was conducted in a single specialized cancer center in Brazil, so costs may vary in other settings. The analysis focused on direct costs and did not account for potential differences in complication rates or long-term clinical outcomes between the two flushing solutions.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this study proves sodium chloride is clinically superior for preventing catheter occlusion or infection. It measures cost and resource use; the claim that both solutions have 'the same purpose and effectiveness' relies on cited literature, not this study's own data.