Long line infections in very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants Neonatal Diseases Sepsis
Conditions
Interventions
The trial has started enrolling patients from 1st September 2007.
Heparin infusion in long line versus placebo (0.45% saline infusion).
Sponsors
St Mary's Hospital (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Infants admitted to Winnicott Baby Unit (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU]), St Mary's Hospital and born with birth weight <1500 g and who need a long line inserted for any medical indication and for whom written parental consent has been obtained are eligible to enter the study. Each baby can be enrolled only once in the study - the same infant will not be enrolled for the study again if he/she needs another long line inserted and if he/she has already been in the study before.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Infants who have a persisting haemorrhagic diathesis at time of proposed insertion of long line (LL). (International normalised ratio [INR] >1.8, activited partial thromboplastin time [APTT] >79.4 sec: Andrew M, et al 1988. Blood 72:1651-7) 2. Infants for whom parents have refused consent 3. Infants with birth weight =1500 g 4. Infants who have a =grade 3 intraventricular haemorrhage, unilaterally or bilaterally (by Papille's classification) 5. Infants with culture proven infection within 48 hours prior to long line insertion 6. Infants with platelet counts <100 x 10^9/l 7. Infants who are deemed clinically unstable by the attending clinician but not from getting a LL
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Reduction in the rate of long line infections 2. Increase in the longevity of long lines 3. Reduction in the number of long lines used 4. To record any adverse effects e.g. bleeding tendencies associated with the use of heparin | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Reduction in catheter-related thromboses | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed