Objective：To assess the efficacy and safety of continuous heparin infusion to prevent catheter occlusion in neonates with peripherally inserted central catheter（PICC）. Methods：Main databases at home and abroad were searched electronically or by hand，the relevant references of selected literatures were looked up and randomized controlled trials（RCTs），comparing heparin with placebo or blank control in neonates with PICC were collected. Quality assessment was conducted based on the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration and Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results：Four RCTs（including 716 participants） were identified；three RCTs were designed as heparin group vs. blank group and one trial as heparin group vs. placebo group. Results of Meta analysis demonstrated that the incidence of catheter occlusion was lower and duration of catheters patency was longer in hep－arin group than in control group（RR 0.47，95%CI（0.24，0.94），P=0.03）（RR 2.09，95%CI（1.21，2.97），P<0.000 01），but there was no statistical difference in the risk of mortality，catheter related sepsis and adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions：Continu－ous heparin infusion can prevent catheter occlusion and lengthen the duration of catheters patency in neonates with PICC，but present trials are not powered enough to evaluate the incidence rates of adverse events.
