Flushing the Old Away: Transitioning From Heparin to Saline for Implanted Port Maintenance

Author(s)Brette Conliffe, PharmD, BCOP, DPLA, Whitney Hatfield, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, BMTCN, Leslie Lauterwasser, RN, BSN, OCN

Fact checked by: Kirsty Mackay

This abstract was presented at the Oncology Pharmacists Connect (OPC) meeting in Austin, Texas, from June 18 to 19, 2026.

Central venous catheters require routine maintenance to preserve patency and prevent complications. Historically, heparin flushes have been standard; however, a review of existing literature suggests normal saline (NS) may be