Study of Sodium Bicarbonate in Restoring Blocked Catheters

This is a study looking at the use of sodium bicarbonate to restore the flow of blocked central line devices in patients with blood cancers. Central line devices uses thin tubes that are placed into a vein in the body to give medicines, fluids, nutrients, blood products, etc. Sometimes, the lines become blocked. The standard procedure to get the line working again is to use alteplase, a protein that dissolves blood clots. While blood clotting is one cause of a blocked line, other reasons included the formation of calcium deposits. Sodium bicarbonate is routinely used in the treatment of patients receiving chemotherapy. Sodium bicarbonate is a liquid drug which is capable of dissolving protein and calcium deposits. This study will compare whether sodium bicarbonate works just as well as alteplase to recover the function of a blocked line.