Baseline characteristics of the study population
| Characteristics | TPN withheparin (n=102) | TPN without heparin (n=108) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth weight, mean±SD, g | 1261±672 | 1308±720 | 0.683 |
| Birth weight <850 g, n (% total) | 26 (25) | 28 (26) | 1.000 |
| Birth weight 850–2000 g, n (% total) | 63 (62) | 64 (59) | 0.778 |
| Birth weight >2000 g, n (% total) | 13 (13) | 16 (15) | 0.694 |
| Gestational age, weeks | 28.7±3.6 | 29.0±4.2 | 0.858 |
| Male (%) | 53 (52%) | 53 (49%) | 0.682 |
| Age at line insertion, mean±SD, days | 2.4±1.9 | 2.9±2.8 | 0.143 |
| Site of insertion | |||
| Lower limb, n (%) | 94 (92) | 96 (89) | 0.486 |
| Upper limb, n (%) | 8 (8) | 12 (11) | |
| Type of catheter | |||
| PremiCath 27 g, n (%) | 56 (55) | 58 (54) | 0.890 |
| ECK 23 g, n (%) | 46 (45) | 50 (46) | |
| Received cranial USS before starting TPN, n (%) | 54 (52) | 58 (54) | 1.000 |
| IVH results before starting TPN in those who had received cranial USS before starting TPN | |||
| Grade 0–2, n (%) | 53 (98) | 55 (95) | 0.619 |
| Grade 3–4, n (%) | 1 (2) | 3 (5) | |
| Total no of blood culture episodes (when either a single culture or two blood cultures were drawn) | 50 | 63 | |
| No of blood culture episodes when two blood cultures were drawn (% total) | 22 (44) | 35 (56) | 0.258 |
ECK, Epicutaneo Cava Katheter, 23-gauge (Vygon, Aachen, Germany); IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage; PremiCath, 27-gauge (Vygon, Aachen, Germany); TPN, total parenteral nutrition; USS, ultrasound scan.