Comparison of premade clevidipine and pharmacy-prepared nicardipine in time to goal systolic blood pressure in acute cerebrovascular accident

PURPOSE: To compare pharmacy-prepared nicardipine and premade clevidipine with regard to time to goal systolic blood pressure (SBP) in acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA). METHODS: A retrospective, observational study was conducted comparing patients with acute CVA who received nicardipine or clevidipine. The primary objective was time to goal SBP. Secondary objectives included time from order to administration, time from administration to goal SBP, percentage of SBP readings below goal, total volume administered, hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, inpatient mortality and adverse events. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were included in the study, 37 in the nicardipine group and 34 in the clevidipine group. A significant difference was found in mean time to goal SBP (150.9 minutes in the nicardipine group vs 69.3 minutes in the clevidipine group, P < 0.01). Time from order to administration was 80.1 minutes in the nicardipine group and 35.2 minutes in the clevidipine group (P < 0.01). Mean time from administration to goal SBP was 70.9 minutes in the nicardipine group and 42.3 minutes in the clevidipine group (P = 0.02). There was no difference between groups in percentage of SBP readings below goal, total volume administered, length of stay, or inpatient mortality. Adverse events occurred in 13 (35.1%) of the nicardipine-treated patients and 17 (50%) of the clevidipine-treated patients (P = 0.42). CONCLUSION: Compared to use of pharmacy-prepared nicardipine, use of premade clevidipine was associated with a shorter time to goal SBP in patients with acute CVA. There were no significant between-group differences in safety outcomes. Premade clevidipine should be considered over pharmacy-prepared nicardipine when rapid blood pressure lowering is warranted in acute CVA.