Heparin solution for maintaining peripheral venous catheter patency in children: a survey of current practice in italian pediatric units. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bisogni, Sofia; Giusti, Francesca; Ciofi, Daniele; Festini, Filippo
• Is Part Of: Issues in comprehensive pediatric nursing. Volume 37:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 135
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Pediatric nursing -- Periodicals; 618.920023105
• DOI: 10.3109/01460862.2014.895562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-0862

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: Prolonging the duration of peripheral venous catheters (PVC) as long as possible in children is a nursing priority. However, available studies provide conflicting evidence on what kind of flush/lock solution should be used to increase the life of PVCs in children. <italic>Objectives</italic>: To describe the clinical behavior of nurses working in Italian pediatric units with regards to PVCs flushing and locking practices. <italic>Methods</italic>: Cross-sectional study. Nurses were invited to participate using the network of the Italian Society of Pediatric Nursing Science. Those participating completed an online questionnaire available on a website established for this specific purpose. <italic>Results</italic>: 405 questionnaires were completed. <italic>Results</italic>: The majority of nurses reported using Normal saline solution (NS) to flush 22 gauge PVCs: 77.6% in children up to 6 months of age, 74.7% in children 6 months to 2 years, and 74.6% in children over 2 years. Nurses tend to use heparin solutions (HS) more frequently when a smaller gauge PVC is used (24 instead of 22) and when access is less frequent. The use of HS for PVC lock is more common in onco-hematology units (54.5% in children over 6 months with 24 gauge PVC), pediatric surgery units (35%), and in short-stay units (55.6%), whereas NS is used more frequently in Intensive care units (9.4%) and neonatology units (12.2%). <italic>Conclusion</italic>: Although the majority of respondents use NS, we found a high variability in practices among Italian nurses. More research on the effectiveness and safety of HS in maintaining the patency of PVCs is needed.</p> </abstract>