PICOT Question: In adult patients with a home peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line, what is the effect of using heparin compared to no heparin for PICC line maintenance, to reduce the incidence of catheter occlusion over an eight-week period?
Population: Adult patients with a home PICC line.
Intervention: Using heparin vs no heparin for flushing PICC line.
Comparison: Other flushing methods used for PICC line maintenance.
Outcome: Reduction in the incidence of catheter occlusion over an eight-week period.
Time Frame: Eight weeks.
Analyze whether the literature supports changing practice in the article below. What is the purpose, sample, design, measurements, and results finding of the article?
Does Low-Dose Heparin Maintain Central Venous Access Device Patency? A Comparison of Heparin Versus Saline During a Period of Heparin Shortage
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20631392/