Heparin Versus Normal Saline in Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Lines
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The study team will be performing a study comparing the use of Heparin Flushes vs. Normal
Saline Flushes in making sure central lines stay open. The participants will be placed in a
group to receive the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) Standard of Care
(control group) for maintaining central lines, or a group to receive Normal Saline Flushes
only (experimental group) to keep their central line open. The participants electronic
medical record will be reviewed by study team members for the inclusion/exclusion criteria,
the participants central line will be assessed by an 11 Blue BMT nurse every 12 hours, and
they may be asked questions regarding their medical history during their stay on 11 Blue BMT.
If a participant is discharged or transferred off of the 11 Blue BMT unit, they will no
longer be included in the study and their central line maintenance will return to the UTSW
Standard of Care. Participants in this study may be at risk for central line occlusion (a
blood clot) which could require intervention to regain the free flow of fluids and use of the
central line. The study team predicts there will be no increase in the rate of line occlusion
when using Normal Saline Flushes only to maintain the free flow of fluids through
participants central line. The study team also hopes the results of this study will help to
improve patient outcomes by decreasing risk of infection, heparin associated complications,
and costs.