Administration of Undiluted Famotidine IV Push at a Large Pediatric Academic Medical Center.

OBJECTIVE

Famotidine is a commonly used agent in pediatric intensive care units. There is no data regarding the safety of undiluted intravenous push (IVP) administration in pediatrics; however, there are historical concerns for hemodynamic instability in the adult population. This study assesses the safety of famotidine administered undiluted IVP for doses ≥ 5 mg in pediatric patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective, observational, medication use evaluation in pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who received famotidine undiluted IVP from February to July 2022. Patients with arterial lines and continuous cardiac telemetry were included. Patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, receiving famotidine doses < 5 mg, or who had a change in vasoactive medication doses within 1 hour prior to famotidine IVP administration were excluded. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia within 45 minutes of undiluted famotidine IVP administration.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients were included. There were 8 patients (13.6%) with hypotension and 1 patient (1.7%) with bradycardia after famotidine administration in the full cohort. Of these 9 patients, 7 had hypotension and bradycardia at baseline. Two patients (3.4%) required adjustment of their vasoactive medication within 45 minutes after receiving famotidine, although these patients were also postoperative day zero from cardiac surgery. None of the patients required a fluid bolus for hypotension following famotidine administration. The percent change in hemodynamics from baseline were minimal across the various time intervals.

CONCLUSION

Famotidine administered undiluted IVP produced no clinically significant hemodynamic -adverse effects in critically ill pediatric patients.