Alteration in prehospital drug concentration after thermal exposure.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the remaining concentration of 23 commonly carried emergency medical services medications used in the United States after they have experienced thermal extremes that have been documented in the prehospital environment for a period of 1 month.


METHODS
Pharmaceuticals were thermally cycled (-6 degrees C and 54 degrees C) every 12 hours and then assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
Eight (35%) of 23 prehospital pharmaceuticals revealed ending concentrations of less than 90% with strong correlation to thermal exposure time. These included lidocaine, diltiazem, dopamine, nitroglycerin, ipratropium, succinylcholine, haloperidol, and naloxone.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in concentration was found to be statistically significant in 8 (35%) of 23 commonly carried emergency medical services pharmaceuticals. These results provide new information and perspective regarding stability of emergency drugs in the prehospital environment by evaluating a broad range of pharmaceuticals as well as by using thermal exposure points that have been documented in the United States.
St. John's Emergency Medical Services, Springfield, MO 65804, USA. dustin.gammon@mercy.net
Dustin L
DL
Gammon
Shujun
S
Su
Janet
J
Jordan
Robert
R
Patterson
Phillip J
PJ
Finley
Cindy
C
Lowe
Roger
R
Huckfeldt
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations