Comparison of normal saline and heparinized solutions for the maintenance of arterial catheter pressure waves: a randomized pilot study

Objectives: Heparinized continuous-flush solutions are used to maintain arterial catheter patency. We sought to compare the patency and pressure wave integrity of radial artery catheters maintained with heparinized or nonheparinized infusions. Methods: Patients in the emergency room and intensive care unit were consecutively enrolled and randomly assigned to receive a heparinized solution (heparin group, n = 18) or normal saline (NS group, n = 16). The functional duration of radial artery catheters, the differences between arterial catheter and brachial cuff blood pressures, and the pressure wave curve quality were determined. Results: The mean duration of functional cannulas did not differ significantly between the heparin and NS groups (120 +/- 129 and 105 +/- 82 hours, respectively, P = 0.689). There was no difference in blood pressure between arterial catheter measurements and brachial cuff measurements between the two groups (P = 0.607). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the incidence of pressure wave dampening did not differ between the groups (log-rank test, P = 0.896). Conclusions: No significant differences were found between heparinized and nonheparinized flush solutions for maintaining radial artery catheter patency and function.