Performance of the clinical pharmacist in the use of drugs via enteral tubes in intensive care

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate pharmaceutical interventions and guidelines related to the use of medication via enteral tubes in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, based on medical records of patients hospitalized in three ICUs of a public hospital in the interior of Bahia, where information was collected on pharmaceutical developments on interventions and medication use guidelines via enteral tubes. Results: 102 medical records evaluated by pharmacists between July and December 2019 were identified. Most patients were male (52.5%) and elderly (55.4%). Of these, 24.8% had guidance on the use of medication via tubes, 7.8% had interventions that contraindicated the use of medication via tubes, and 9.5% of the patients had medication-diet interactions described in their medical records. The most prevalent pharmaceutical guidance on the use via tubes was the form of drug dilution (89.1%), drug-diet interaction (80%) and break from the diet for drug administration (75%). Most drugs involved in the guidelines/interventions have action on the cardiovascular system (49.3%) and nervous system (20.7%). Conclusion: The relevance of the role of the clinical pharmacist regarding interventions and guidelines regarding the use of medication via enteral tubes in ICU patients was verified.