Sodium Citrate May Be Better Than Heparin As A Catheter Lock Solution.

Renal and Urology News  (1/17, Charnow) reports, "Sodium citrate works as well as heparin as a catheter lock solution in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters, but it is associated with significantly fewer catheter-related infections (CRIs)," according to a study published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. The researchers found that "CRIs occurred in 20 patients (33%) while using the heparin solution and 11 (18.9%) while using the sodium citrate solution, a significant difference in infection rates." The investigators also reported that "significantly more catheters were exchanged or removed when the heparin solution rather than the sodium citrate solution was used (34 vs. 18)."