Using heparinised saline as a flush to maintain the patency of arterial and central venous lines is a well-known practice. A literature search was undertaken but found no evidence to support the use of heparinised saline over normal saline. In addition, the use of heparinised saline may be associated with adverse effects. The literature search strategy utilised Ovid CINAHL and Medline databases, as well as hand-searching bibliographies of clinical and research articles from the University of Cambridge Medical Library. Keywords and phrases included ‘heparin’, ‘normal saline’, ‘arterial’, ‘haemodynamic lines’ and ‘catheters’. All types of evidence from each of these resources were examined to identify major themes, areas of agreement and disagreement across clinical practice, changes in the concept over time and emerging trends.
BishopL., DoughertyL., BodenhamA.2007Guidelines on the insertion and management of central venous access devices InternationalJournal Of Laboratory Hematology29(4) 261–278
4.
BrownM., DimeskiG.2001Contamination of coagulation tests with heparin from blood gas samplesBritish Journal of Anaesthesia87(4) 628–629
5.
BucherL.2004Critical Care Environment. In: LewisA.M., HeitkemperM.M., DirksenS.R. (Eds) Medical Surgical Nursing (6th Edn) St Louis, Mosby
ClarkeS.L.1999Arterial lines: an analysis of good practiceJournal of Child Health Care3(1) 23–27
8.
FujitaT., NamikiT., SuzukiT., YamamotoE.2006Normal Saline Flushing for maintanence or peripheral intravenous sitesJournal of Clinical Nursing15(1) 103–104
9.
GambyA., BennettJ.1995A feasibility study of the non-heparinised 0.9% sodium chloride for transduced arterial and venous linesIntensive and Critical Care Nursing11(3) 148–150
10.
HallK.F.M., BennettsT.M., WhittaR.K.S., WellmanL., RawlinsP.2006Effects of arterial line flushing solutions on platelet count: a randomised double-blind studyCritical Care and Resuscitation8(4) 294–296
11.
HirshJ., AnandS.S., HalperinJ.L., FusterV.2001Guide to anticoagulant therapy. Heparin: a statement for healthcare professionals from theAmerican Heart Association Circulation103(24) P2994–3018
12.
KayeJ., HealdGR, MortonJ., WeaverT.2001Patency of radial arterial cathetersAmerican Journal of Critical Care10(2) 104–111
13.
KulkarniM., ElsnerC., OuelletD., ZeldinR.1994Heparinized saline versus normal saline in maintaining patency of radial artery catheterCanadian Journal of Surgery37(1) 37–42
14.
LeightonH.1994Maintaining the patency of transduced arterial and venous lines using 0.9% sodium chlorideIntensive and Critical Care Nursing10(1) 23–25
15.
LingE., WarkentinT.E.1998Intraoperative heparin flushes and subsequent acute heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaAnesthesiology89(6) 1567–1569
16.
McNultyI., KatzE., KimK.Y.2005Thrombocytopenia following heparin flushProgress in Cardiovascular Nursing20(4) 143–114
SellengK., WarkentinT., GreinacherA.2007Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in intensive care patientsCritical Care Medicine35(4) 1165–1176
19.
ThamlikitkulV., IndranoiA.2006Switching from heparinised saline flush to normal saline flush for maintaining peripheral venous catheter patencyInternational Journal for Quality in Health Care18(3) 183–185
20.
TuncaliB.E., KuvakiB., TuncaliB., CaparE.2005A comparison of the efficacy of heparinised and non-heparinised solutions for maintenance of perioperative radial arterial catheter patency and subsequent ccclusionAnesthesia & Analgesia100(4) 1117–1121
21.
WarkentinT.E.2007Heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaHematology/Oncology Clinics of North America21(4) 589–607
22.
WhittaR.K., HallK.F., BennettsT.M., WelmanL., RawlinsP.2006Comparison of normal or heparinised saline flushing on function of arterial lines journal of theAustralasian Academy of Critical Care Medicine8(3) 205–208
