Continuous infusion of drugs: a simple and rational system.

Continuous infusion of potent, often short-acting drugs particularly affecting the cardiovascular system is becoming more common in the operating room and intensive care unit. Accuracy and, hence, safety are always important in drug therapy, and never more so than when using the potent vasoactive and cardioactive drugs, yet the multiplicity of methods for preparing these drugs for infusion creates a situation in which mistakes may easily occur. A series of decimally related dilutions for drug preparation is presented, which has been in use for the past 5 years in the cardiac intensive care units at this hospital. It is believed that this system is easy to understand and remember and it thereby simplifies the process. This system may enhance the accuracy of dosage and improve the safety for patients.