Comparison of different heparin locking frequencies in patients with unremoved catheters after continuous renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit: a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial protocol from China

This study represents the first prospective RCT comparing 24-h versus 72-h heparin locking frequencies in ICU patients with unremoved dialysis catheters post-CRRT. The findings are expected to provide high-quality evidence for selecting optimal catheter maintenance strategies, reducing nursing workload, and lowering healthcare costs for patients. In addition to clinical efficacy and safety, the integrated cost-effectiveness analysis will provide evidence for the economic feasibility of optimal locking strategies, supporting resource allocation decisions in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION {4}: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. ChiCTR2500107820 . September 1, 2025.