Pharmacotherapy in pediatric critical illness: a prospective observational study

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Conor McDonnell1, Stanley Hum, Helena Frndova

  • 1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Paediatric Drugs
|September 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pharmacotherapy is crucial in pediatric critical care, with critically ill children receiving numerous medications. Longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays correlate with increased drug orders and administrations, highlighting safety and efficacy needs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Therapeutics

Background:

  • Pharmacotherapy is an under-evaluated aspect of pediatric critical care.
  • Understanding medication use in critically ill children is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate pharmacotherapy in emergency admissions to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
  • To identify factors associated with medication orders and administrations in critically ill children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational study of 100 patients admitted to a medical-surgical ICU for at least 24 hours.
  • Primary outcomes: number of drug orders, different medications, and drug administrations.
  • Multiple regression analyses identified factors associated with outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Patients received a median of 29.5 drug orders, 14 different medications, and 58 drug administrations.
  • Most frequent medications included morphine, furosemide, potassium, lorazepam, and albuterol.
  • Duration of PICU stay and severity of illness were independently associated with medication use.

Conclusions:

  • Pharmacotherapy is highly active in pediatric critical care.
  • Increased medication use is linked to longer ICU stays and therapies.
  • Data emphasize the need for improved medication safety and efficacy in critically ill children.
Abstract

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