Implanted Port Patency: Comparing Heparin and Normal Saline.

BACKGROUND

To maintain implanted port patency, clinicians can better determine the difference between the use of heparin and normal saline, including risk to patients, unnecessary cost to the healthcare system, and whether heparin is effective in maintaining port patency.

OBJECTIVES

The aim is to compare the effectiveness of saline to heparin for maintaining implanted port patency and to evaluate the cost differences.

METHODS

Data were collected from 56 patients enrolled in oncology clinical trials; 37 had paired data.

FINDINGS

Results showed that saline was as effective as heparin in maintaining implanted port patency. The difference in mean cost of saline versus heparin was statistically significant. Eliminating heparin when locking implanted ports did not increase catheter occlusion rates.