Volume No : (2018) Volume: 06 Issue : 31 Year : 2018 Page No: 55-60
Authors : S. Sriram, S. Aishwarya, A. Ajith Kumar, Akhila Moithu, Akshaya Sebastian
Abstract :
In intensive care unit, intravenous (IV) therapy is preferred over oral therapy for a faster therapeutic action. IV therapy is complex and error prone, requiring strategies to reduce the risk and complications. Once injected, reversing the action is not possible unless an antidote exists. Drug incompatibility results from the simultaneous dilution and/or administration of two or more drugs that interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of the medications and patient safety, visually evidenced by the change of solution color, precipitation, or turbidity. Incompatibility occurs in vitro, which differentiates it from real drug interactions that occur in vivo. Medication errors such as wrong drug, dose, diluents, and cross-contamination errors with IV therapy further lead to death and harm to the patient. This is a narrative review of physical and chemical IV drug incompatibilities and explores the preventive strategies for the same. Findings from this review are useful in addressing current practice challenges
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