Objective To make an individualized administration scheme via evidence-based medicine methods, namely adding heparin into the total nutrient admixture (TNA) solution, so as to help a neonate to prevent the occlusion of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Methods After carefully assessing the condition of neonate, this clinical issue was put forward in accordance with the PICO principles. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews on neonates’ PICC occlusion were collected from The Cochrane Library, CCTR, DARE, NGC, MEDLINE (Ovid) and CBM from inception to 2011. The clinical intervention scheme was finally made after the assessment of the retrieved evidence and neonate’s physiological condition. Results A total of 4 RCTs and 1 systematic review related to the issues were identified. The following scheme was finally made for the neonate through the assessment of the retrieved evidence and combination of intentions of the patient’s family members: heparin (0.5 U/mL) was added into TNA to prevent PICC occlusion. During the application, blood routine test and blood coagulation were monitored, and the catheter opening time and extubation reason were recorded. Through the above treatment, the neonate successfully completed the treatment before extubation. The time of both PICC detaining and opening was 20 days in total, and there were no PICC occlusion, no catheter thrombosis, and no catheter related bloodstream infection. Moreover, no observation showed thrombopenia and aggravated coagulation disorders resulted from heparin. Conclusion The evidence-based medicine method is an effective way to make reasonable heparin scheme for neonate, so as to prevent PICC occlusion, reduce catheter thrombosis, decrease risks of catheter related blood circulation infection, assure successful completion of treatment, and guarantee the safety of patients.
Objective To investigate the role of low-dose heparin added to total nutrient admixture (TNA) solutions in the prevention of catheter related infections (CRIs). Methods One-hundred three newborn infants with periph-erally inserted central catheter (PICC) were divided into heparin group (n=63) and control group (n=40). The patients in the heparin group received TNA with 0.5 U/ ml heparin. The patients in the control group received TNA without heparin. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence of CRTs in the two groups. Results We found that the incidence of CRIs was 0 in the heparin group and 12.5% (5/40) in the control group. The incidence of catheter obstruction was 6.3% (4/63) in the heparin group and 20% (8/40) in the control group. The incidence of catheter-tip colonization was 1.58% (1/40) in the heparin group and 17.5% (7/40) in the control group. The incidences of CRIs, catheter obstruction, and catheter-tip colonization were signiicantly lower in the heparin group than those in the control group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion TNA solutions with 0.5U/ml heparin have decreased catheter obstruction and CRIs.