Maintaining peripheral cannulas in adults using heparinised or normal saline.

Abstract

Maintaining peripheral cannula in adults using heparinised or normal saline. This dissertation looked at whether there were any differences between normal and heparinised saline as flush solutions in maintaining intravenous (IV) cannulas in adults. The research question to be answered was: Is flushing of a peripheral cannula with heparinised saline more effective than normal saline to maintain patency in adults? The population focused on were adults who had an IV cannula inserted in a hospital setting. The intervention was flushing with normal saline after drug administration whilst the comparison intervention was flushing with heparinised saline after drug administration. The expected final outcome was a patent IV cannula. Children and pregnant women were excluded from the dissertation. Only studies on peripheral IV catheters were included and studies with patients receiving streptokinase, heparin drip or any other anti-coagulant were excluded. A total of three systematic review and meta-analyses and six experimental design studies were included in this dissertation. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was used for the appraisal of Randomised Control Trials (RCT) and systematic reviews whilst Critical Review Form Quantitative Studies by Law et al. (1998) was used for quantitative studies that do not fall under RCTs. Results showed that there are no significant differences between normal saline and heparinised saline in maintaining patency in adults. Additionally, there were no significant differences in occurrence of phlebitis and prolongation of duration of cannulas either. Normal saline was just as effective as a flushing solution as heparinised saline and practice should be adapted accordingly. Keywords used: MAINTAINING, PERIPHERAL, CANNULA, HEPARIN, SALINE, ADULTS B.Sc. (Honours) Nursing April 2012