Effectiveness of heparin flush and normal saline flush for the maintenance of patency of peripheral intracath line among the patients admitted to medical-surgical wards of selected hospital

Abstract

Background: Peripheral intracath line is the typical hospital I.V line put in the hand or forearm when patients are admitted to the hospital intravenous catheters represent the most common parenteral for medication administration. Maintenance of the patency of these peripheral intracath lines is important for minimizing patients discomfort and the expense associated with replacement. Keeping this in view a quasi experimental study was undertaken on effectiveness of Heparin flush and Normal Saline flush for the maintenance of patency peripheral intracath line among the patients admitted to medical surgical wards of selected hospital. Materials and Methods: An experimental research approach with quasi experimental design with multiple measures was used for the study. Results: The study was carried out in medical and surgical wards of A J Hospital and Research Centre, Mangalore. The sample comprised of patients between the age group of 20-60 years. Samples were selected by purposive sampling technique. The Study findings revealed that in Group I (Experimental group) the mean patency scores of 72 hours (Post test 6) were 1.50 ± 0.51, 1.50, whereas mean scores of before intervention (pre test) was 1 ± 0, 1 respectively. In Group II (Control group) the mean patency scores of 72 hours (Post test 4) were 1.90 ± 0.55, 2, whereas mean patency scores of before intervention (pre test) was 1 ± 0, 1 respectively. It was found that there was no significant difference in patency sores of peripheral intracath line in Group I (F (5, 114) = 1.46, P < 0.05) and Group II (F (5, 114) = 2.10, P < 0.05) at different timings. This suggests that patency scores were same at different timings in both groups for 72 hours. There was no significant difference in patency scores of back flow, flow rate, resistance, infiltration, extravasation, and phlebitis between the Group I and Group II (t38 = 2.02, P < 0.05) at different timings. Thus it was inferred that patency of peripheral intracath line was maintained in the both Group I (Experimental group) and Group II (Control group) for 72 hours. Both heparin flush and normal saline flush were effective in the maintenance of patency of peripheral intracath line.