Hydrogen-ion potential of dobutamine hydrochloride solutions exposed to environmental conditions of neonatal intensive care units.

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 degrees 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 degrees C and 3.55+/-0.20 at 37 degrees 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.