Heparin versus 0.9% sodium chloride locking for prevention of occlusion in central venous catheters in adults

• Published in: Cochrane database of systematic reviews Vol. 7; p. CD008462
• Main Authors: López-Briz, Eduardo, Ruiz Garcia, Vicente, Cabello, Juan B, Bort-Martí, Sylvia, Carbonell Sanchis, Rafael, Burls, Amanda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 30.07.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Anticoagulants - adverse effects; Catheter Obstruction - statistics & numerical data; Catheter-Related Infections - epidemiology; Catheterization, Central Venous; Central Venous Catheters; Hemorrhage - chemically induced; Hemorrhage - epidemiology; Heparin - administration & dosage; Heparin - adverse effects; Humans; Sodium Chloride - administration & dosage; Therapeutic Irrigation - methods; Thrombocytopenia - chemically induced; Thrombocytopenia - epidemiology

Intermittent locking of central venous catheters (CVCs) is undertaken to help maintain their patency. There are systematic variations in care: some practitioners use heparin (at different concentrations), whilst others use 0.9% NaCl (normal saline). This review looks at the effectiveness and safety...