Standard concentration infusions of inotropic and vasoactive drugs in paediatric intensive care: a strategy for patient safety.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different standard concentration infusions for high-alert inotropic and vasoactive drugs in paediatric intensive care units (ICUs).

METHODS: Retrospective data analysis was performed on drug prescriptions for patients in paediatric ICUs. A matrix was developed based on optimal concentration recommendations for each drug, taking into consideration solution stability and patient safety. Hypothetical volumes were calculated for three standard solutions (high concentration - HC, low concentration - LC and fluid restriction - FR) and compared to the actual administered volumes to evaluate the impact of the volumes of each standard solution for varying weight ranges in paediatric care. Finally, a risk assessment of the standard infusions was conducted using the NPSA 20 tool along with an assessment of the pharmacoeconomic impact.

KEY FINDINGS: The results suggest the need for at least two standard concentrations for each of the studied drugs in order to attend to the different weight ranges and clinical conditions of paediatric patients in intensive care.

CONCLUSIONS: High concentration is ideal for patients up to 20 kg. For patients over 20 kg, FR is recommended, while LC should only be used in specific situations. Modifying the hospital pharmacotherapy system to include standard solutions is safer and reduces the risks of adverse effects. The pharmacoeconomic analysis did not show any impact on costs, although a reduction in adverse effects should be considered.