Trial reportInternational urology and nephrology2024
Sodium bicarbonate is a potential alternative to classic heparin as a lock solution for non-tunneled dialysis catheters: a result from the prospective randomized BicarbLock trial.
Trial report in International urology and nephrology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04772209 (Comparison of Effectiveness and Complications of Heparin and Sodium Bicarbonate Catheter Lock Solutions in Non-Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters), which is not on this map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Comparison of Effectiveness and Complications of Heparin and Sodium Bicarbonate Catheter Lock Solutions in Non-Tunneled Hemodialysis Catheters
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sodium bicarbonate combined with urokinase for the prevention and management of hemodialysis central venous catheter dysfunction.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Article
- Impact of sodium bicarbonate locking solution on catheter-related blood stream infection in hemodialysis patients: comparative effectiveness of three locks.Journal of nephrology · 2025Article
- Antimicrobial Lock Therapy in Clinical Practice: A Scoping Review.Microorganisms · 2025Review
- Anticoagulants utilization in eight hospitals within the Luzhou region from 2019 to 2023.PloS one · 2025Article
- A Comprehensive Review of Catheter-Related Thrombosis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- Considerations and alternative viewpoints on the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate as the lock solution for non-tunneled dialysis catheters.International urology and nephrology · 2024Article
- Pharmacologic challenges in pediatric intestinal failure: A review.Intestinal Failure (New York, N.Y.)Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTemporary vascular access is mandatory for acute hemodialysis. Heparin lock solution is the standard of care worldwide. Many lock solutions were studied in terms of thrombosis and catheter-related infection prevention, but none replaced heparin as a standard measure. Our main aim is to investigate the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), a ubiquitous and cheap option as a catheter lock solution, in comparison with traditionally used heparin in non-tunneled hemodialysis catheters.
methodsWe conducted our prospective study between March 2021 and March 2022. Our study included 441 patients > 18 years old who needed either femoral or jugular non-tunneled dialysis catheters. Patients were assigned to either heparin (5000 IU/ml) or 8.4% sodium bicarbonate on a consecutive basis. Basic characteristics and information regarding catheters, dialysis sessions, and complications were recorded. We divided patients according to the catheter insertion site as well as the lock solution.
resultsWe analyzed 426 patients divided into four groups: jugular heparin (n = 113), jugular bicarbonate (n = 113), femoral heparin (n = 113), and femoral bicarbonate (n = 100). Basal characteristics were similar for all groups. The mean time to last effective dialysis in our institution was 10.7 ± 12.1 days for heparin vs 11.5 ± 10.8 days for the bicarbonate group. 25 (5.9%) patients had some kind of blood flow problems (13 in the heparin and 12 in the bicarbonate group). There was no significant difference in terms of catheter malfunction among groups (p = 0.50). Out of these 25 cases, only 12 (7 in heparin and 5 in the bicarbonate arm) had catheter dysfunction (p = 0.386). Sixty-four patients (28%) with jugular catheters were discharged with patent catheters and continued their dialysis in other facilities.
conclusionSodium bicarbonate is as effective as classic unfractionated heparin in preventing catheter lumen thrombosis with a comparable incidence of catheter-related complications. Furthermore, it is a cost-effective option that can be used confidently, especially when heparin is contraindicated.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04772209 (26.02.2021).
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