Experience of compounding total parenteral nutrition admixtures for preterm infants in a hospital pharmacy: evidence of calcium and phosphate compatibility problem

摘要

ObjectiveParenterally fed preterm newborn infants require large amounts of calcium and phosphate in a low volume of solution. The lower the volume of solution, the higher is the possibility of precipitation of calcium hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO4). Precipitation could cause respiratory distress and pulmonary embolism, and the use of organic salts of calcium and phosphorus may reduce the likelihood of this problem. To date, no previous work on the stability of solutions with organic salts has been published in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the visible precipitation of calcium and phosphorus in total parenteral nutrition solutions.