Heparin versus normal saline for the care of peripheral intravenous catheters in children: A meta-analysis.
Weiying Zhang, Biqiong Wei, Mengqi Chai and 1 others
PMID 38268289WHAT IT FOUND
Heparin lock lowered blockage and prolonged dwell time in children with peripheral IV catheters, but did not lower phlebitis.
Consider only if there is no coagulation dysfunction.
Key findings
01The paper reported a lower blockage incidence in the heparin group than in the normal saline group, and gave OR 2.01 (95% CI 1.42 to 2.84).
02The paper reported longer catheter indwelling time with heparin lock, with MD -0.43 days (95% CI -0.75 to -0.11).
03Phlebitis incidence did not differ between heparin and normal saline lock, OR 1.02 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.74).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The analysis included only 10 RCTs and 1255 children. Seven studies did not report allocation concealment, and one trial did not describe the random method. Blinding was difficult for clinicians, children, and outcome assessors. Most studies were conducted in China. Only Chinese and English reports were included. The paper did not name a primary outcome.
Declared interests
No funding was reported, and the authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that heparin lock is better for every child. The trials were small, mostly from China, and often unblinded, and phlebitis did not differ.