OBJECTIVE: To verify the hydrogen-ion potential (pH) of dobutamine hydrochloride solutions under environmental conditions similar to those of neonatal intensive care units. METHODS: We analyzed the pH of the drug diluted in 5% dextrose in water or 0.9% NaCl under different conditions of temperature (22 and 37 °C) and light (dark, fluorescent light bulbs, and phototherapy equipment), using colorless and amber intravenous sets at time intervals of 0, 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. RESULTS: The pH values of the marketed form of the drug and the diluted drug were similar. The pH means were 3.45±0.19 at 22 °C and 3.55±0.20 at 37 °C. The average of the pH according to light conditions were as follows: in the dark = 3.62±0.09, under room light = 3.63±0.07, and exposed to phototherapy = 3.31±0.16. Solutions stored in colorless intravenous sets had a lower mean (3.41±0.24) than those kept in amber intravenous sets (3.52±0.15). We found lower pH values in the solutions exposed to phototherapy using colorless intravenous sets (3.17±0.03) than in those using amber intravenous sets (3.55±0.03). CONCLUSION: There was higher variation in the pH of the solutions exposed to phototherapy, and the use of amber intravenous sets reduced such effect.
Neonatal nursing; intensive care; drug stability; dobutamine; intravenous infusions; medication errors
