Safety of Intravenous Ibuprofen Administration in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

objectiveIntravenous (IV) ibuprofen has recently been approved for treating moderate acute pain and fever, but evidence in pediatric use remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term safety of IV ibuprofen in children treated in a pediatric emergency department (PED).

methodsA prospective observational study was conducted including children aged 6 months to younger than 14 years who received IV ibuprofen between January 2021 and September 2023 in a PED of a tertiary hospital. IV ibuprofen was administered for moderate acute pain or fever when oral administration was not feasible due to vomiting or the need for fasting before a potential surgical intervention. Physicians documented patient history, previous analgesia, reasons for consultation and IV ibuprofen administration, vital signs, pain scores (0-10) before and 10 minutes after administration, and any adverse events (AEs).

resultsWe included 287 patients, with a median age of 9 years (IQR, 6-11). No serious AEs occurred, and no hospital admissions were required due to IV ibuprofen. Mild AEs occurred in 15 patients (5.2%), most commonly transient pain or itching at the infusion site. One patient developed a mild skin rash leading to treatment discontinuation, with complete recovery. Pain scores showed a median reduction of 3 points (IQR, 2-4).

conclusionsShort-term use of IV ibuprofen in the PED was associated with an acceptable safety profile and clinically relevant pain reduction. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate safety with repeated dosing or longer duration of use.