[oMerMero]

We always flush our unused lines with saline every four hours, whether peripheral or central. That becomes routine with assessments. I understand med-surg floor atill used heparin, but they flush the lines less frequently.

[StacieRN]

I advocate for switching to saline everywhere. It's personal with me. In January of last year, I developed HIT (heparin induced thrombocyotepenia).
Because of the HIT, I STILL have a DVT that extends from mid-left subclavian backward and up the jugular and downward half-way down my axillary vein on the left.
Also, I developed 3 subdural bleeds because of the thrombocytopenia and anticoagulation.
All in all a heck of a lot to go through - just because I had a reaction to heparin flushes.

[RedERRN]

NS here

[AliRae]

We might just be the only ones using heparin!

Our art-lines and CVPs from our central lines get 3ml/hour of heparinized saline. We use a 0.5unit/ml concentration. The NICU-sized cardiac kiddos get heparnized saline as well but at a lower rate ... 1.5/hour, I believe. We mix our own bags for the big kids and pharmacy mixes our syringes for the little ones.

[steelcityrn]

Yes. I agree ns is much safer, and thats all I have used.

[GrnHonu99]

Originally Posted by StacieRN

I advocate for switching to saline everywhere. It's personal with me. In January of last year, I developed HIT (heparin induced thrombocyotepenia).
Because of the HIT, I STILL have a DVT that extends from mid-left subclavian backward and up the jugular and downward half-way down my axillary vein on the left.
Also, I developed 3 subdural bleeds because of the thrombocytopenia and anticoagulation.
All in all a heck of a lot to go through - just because I had a reaction to heparin flushes.

We use hep. too....we dont have a continuous drip or anything, ours are set up in a pressure bag, so the only time the pt gets the hep. is when we flush...its mixed w/ns not positive of the concentration though.

[lifeLONGstudent]

Our policy states we use heparin. IF pt has a reason, we have docs write an order to use NS.

I sent my ICH lady to OR a few weeks ago to get a VP shunt. OR sent her back with a heparin flush attached to her new a line. Thanks for the A-line, but what part of ICH (H as in H-E-M-O-R-R-H-A-G-E) did they not get? We quickly changed the heparin to NS.

[Christie RN2006]

Originally Posted by ELKMNin06

We use hep. too....we dont have a continuous drip or anything, ours are set up in a pressure bag, so the only time the pt gets the hep. is when we flush...its mixed w/ns not positive of the concentration though.

Same here.

[Kymmi]

Just saline here also because of the increasing HIT population.
Christie and ELKNMin06---even though you dont have the pressure bags hooked up to a pump they are still getting 3cc/hr of whatever is running thru the line. The pressure bags deliever 3cc/hr to keep the line intact and then anytime you flush it thats that much more.

[Bronx1560]

Normal Saline! No Heparin For Us! Risk of HIT to Great!