Question

The use of heparin versus saline to maintain the patency of peripheral intravenous catheters has been addressed in the research for many years.The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHSP) published a paper in January 2006 advocating its support for the use of 0.9% saline in the maintenance of peripheral catheters in non-pregnant adults.The ASHSP paper references articles from 1991.What do you believe are some of the barriers that would have caused this delay in implementation?

Answer 1

various researches have been done research in this topic and according to them following reason are there which delays the implementation-

• It has many inherited risk associated with heparin.
• Researcher believes that use of 0.9 % sodium chloride injection is good for maintaining the patency of catheters but it does not prevent from infection.
• Some conflict like heparin is not applicable for neonates or other outpatient setting for periferal clearance as repeated injections of heparin eventhough in small also can activate the partial thromboplastin time and it may lead to bleeding, sensitive person may develop the allergic reaction and potential for bleeding complications will increase with the patient who all are having heparin flushes.
• Repeated use of heparin will develop bledding disorder.
• Through the many researches have been found that the low use of heparin with normal saline has no effect on patency of peripheral catheter and it is not giving the safety in case of sepsis or hemorrhage.
• It cannot be used in the cancer patient.
• Prolong time of indwelling IV catheter can increase the microbial colonisation and it will develop infection.