Letter to the Editor

Heparin flush vs. saline flush for use in the maintenance of adult central venous and intra-arterial catheters: potential harm, too little gain?

Gladness D. Nethathe, M. Mbeki
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 22, No 2 | a827 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/22201181.2016.1151172 | © 2016 Gladness D Nethathe, M Mbeki | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 03 November 2025 | Published: 05 May 2016

About the author(s)

Gladness D. Nethathe, Intensive Care Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and, Burns, Trauma and Critical Care Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
M. Mbeki, Department of Anaesthesia, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Abstract

Heparin saline use for the maintenance of invasive arterial and central lines may be associated with significant risks and has not been conclusively shown to confer additional benefits over saline flushing alone. The routine use of heparin saline flush instead of saline alone for arterial and central venous catheter maintenance should be thoughtfully considered.

Keywords

arterial line maintenance; coagulation; heparin; monitoring

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Crossref Citations

1. Heparinised saline versus normal saline flushing in maintaining arterial catheter patency in intensive care patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Guglielmo Imbriaco, Lorenzo Gamberini, Simone Amato, Federico Moro, Floriana Pinto, Tommaso Scquizzato, Arianna Gazzato, Timothy R. Spencer
Australian Critical Care  vol: 39  issue: 3  first page: 101571  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1016/j.aucc.2026.101571