Continuous infusion of medications in very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a safe and accurate method for the administration in the neonatal intensive care unit of several potent medications as a continuous infusion without overloading the infant, especially the very low birth weight (VLBW) infant by diluents.


METHODS
The method designed is based on a weight-adapted solution limiting the diluent administration and allowing for a versatile modulation of dose administration. As this method was initially designed for VLBW infants, the point of departure of this method is a standard maximal fluid load of 0.3 ml/h for each medication, delivered in a low compliant circuit with a high-precision syringe driver. Solutions are made for 24 h, which is a compromise between drug stability and repeated pressure drops in the circuit when changing the syringe and administration set. To translate a prescription into a solution a conversion factor is calculated. In addition to the calculation principle, this conversion factor is given for a number of commonly used drugs in neonatal care.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, the method described adds to the safety and accuracy of continuous drug administration in neonatal care.
Vanhole
C
C
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Pharmacy, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Jannes
F
F
Vrancken
M
M
Naulaers
G
G
Allegaert
K
K
Willems
L
L
Devlieger
H
H
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations