Normal Saline Flushing With And Without Heparin Lock In Maintaining Small Bore Intercostal Chest Catheter (ICC) Patency

Launched by NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA · Mar 13, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the best way to keep small bore intercostal chest catheters (SBICC) open and working properly in patients with pleural effusion, which is a buildup of fluid around the lungs. Specifically, the trial is comparing two methods: flushing the catheters with normal saline (a saltwater solution) versus locking them with heparin (a medication that helps prevent blood clots). The goal is to see which method works better to prevent the catheters from becoming blocked, which can happen frequently and affect treatment.

To participate in this trial, patients need to be admitted to the hospital for pleural effusion and have a small bore chest catheter inserted. However, patients with certain conditions, such as those who have specific types of fluid buildup or bleeding disorders, won't be eligible. Those who join the trial can expect to receive standard care while also being part of this important research. It's a chance to help improve treatments for others facing similar health challenges in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • • All patients admitted in medical wards for pleural effusion who had small bore intercostal catheters inserted.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with hydropneumothorax with small bore intercostal catheters
• • Patients with septated effusion planned for intrapleural fibrinolysis
• • Patients with severe coagulopathy
• • INR ≥ 1.5
• • PT \> 37s
• • aPTT \> 100s
• • Patients with thrombocytopenia of less than 50 x 109/L
• • Patients who has not consented to be involved in the study
• • Patients with indwelling pleural catheters
• • Unconscious patients will be excluded from this study
• • Patients with poor GCS score will be excluded from this study