Objective:

To evaluate the incompatibilities of intravenous medications in cardiac patients admitted to a cardiac intensive unit, associating possible incompatibilities with the severity and characteristics of the adverse event.

Method:

Cross-sectional, observational, and quantitative study, held in a Cardiac intensive Unit of a University Hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Data collection took place from March to June 2018. Micromedex® identified and classified drug incompatibilities.

Results:

We analyzed 111 prescriptions with a total of 1,497 prescription drugs, the average number of prescription drugs was 13.49 (6 ± 24), 580 (38.74%) intravenously in which 41.38% were administered simultaneously with another medicine. The study showed 121 incompatibilities and the drug classes that had the highest number of incompatibilities were diuretics, hypnotics and sedatives, cardiovascular stimulants (vasoactive amines), antibiotics for systemic use, corticosteroids for systemic use, cardiovascular vasodilators, and antiarrhythmic agents. We highlight the incompatibilities classified as moderate, furosemide with hydrocortisone, and midazolam with omeprazole, and severe fentanyl with amiodarone.

Conclusion:

The study highlights the importance of medication scheduling and administration by the nursing team based on pharmacological knowledge. We expect that the chart of recommendations prepared in the study with nursing care related to incompatibilities with greater potential for severity and its events can contribute to drug safety.

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