| Methods |
Single center randomized study. Masking of allocation; No. Masking of intervention; No. Completeness of follow up; Yes. Masking of Outcome; No. |
| Participants |
111 infants "randomly" allocated to one of four nurseries, two of which used heparin and two of which didn't. |
| Interventions |
Heparin at 1 unit/mL in the infusate, running at 2 mL/hr. The flush solutions did not contain heparin. |
| Outcomes |
Frequency of catheter occlusion. Aortic thrombosis by ultrasound within 12 to 24 hours after catheter removal, PT and PTT. |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
High risk |
Masking of Allocation: Not attempted. |
| Blinding?
All outcomes |
High risk |
Masking of Intervention: Not attempted.
Masking of outcome: Not attempted. |
| Incomplete outcome data addressed?
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Completeness of follow‐up: All infants appear to have been accounted for. The numbers of infants who actually had ultrasounds is not stated, even though two infants had aortic thrombosis diagnosed by clinical symptoms alone. |
| Free of other bias? |
Unclear risk |
Other comments: Hypotheses stated, authors do not describe how they arrived at a sample size. |
