Safe and effective use of medicinesun Paediatric Intensive Care

Abstract

Analgesia and sedation in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is an important therapeutic area; however despite this, most of the drugs routinely used are unlicensed and there are still many knowledge gaps which may not lead to the safest and most effective therapy in children. Many medicines in PICU, including analgesia and sedation, are administered as IV infusions for a rapid and sustained effect and especially when the child is not absorbing medicines orally or when this route is contraindicated. However, the traditional practice of prescribing and administering medicines as continuous IV infusions, as in the case of morphine, could lead to inaccurate drug delivery to children therefore unpredictable response, especially when manipulations of small volumes are required to make the infusions. Furthermore, on other occasions when the enteral route is established, liquid medicines require an enteral administration device and the accuracy of these devices has not been properly identified. By having a pharmacist as part of the multidisciplinary team most of these aspects are identified and explored.