Heparin Versus Normal Saline in Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Lines

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.

Conditions

• Cancer

Interventions

DRUG

Normal Saline Group

A 10cc NS flush will be administered intravenously through the peripherally inserted central line catheter after administration of medication, blood products, and blood draws. In addition the peripherally inserted central line catheter will be flushed intravenously with 10cc Normal Saline every 24 hours.

DRUG

Heparin Group

All lumens of PICC line will be flushed w/ Heparin Flush every 8 hours. PICC line will be flushed with 10cc Normal Saline followed by 3cc Heparin Flush after administration of medication, blood products, or blood draws.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Meredith C Allen, BSN · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Teresa Phan · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Linda Denke · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Kavitha Nair · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Miriam Gonzales · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Ramona Warkola · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

• Jancy Wilson · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-02-12

Primary Completion

2023-03-30

Completion

2023-03-30

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations