title: Pharmacokinetics of propofol in children.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of propofol were studied in 12 healthy Chinese children, aged 4-12 yr, undergoing circumcision under inhalation anaesthesia. All patients received a single i.v. bolus dose of propofol 2.5 mg kg-1 and blood concentrations of propofol over the subsequent 24 h were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. Data were consistent with a three-compartment model with a mean (SEM) elimination half-life of 209 (29) min and total body clearance of 40.4 (3.6) ml min-1 kg-1. The mean (SEM) apparent volume of distribution at steady state was 5.0 (2.7) litre kg-1 and volume of the central compartment was 0.6 (0.1) litre kg-1. The mean (SEM) ratio of k12:k21 was 1.4 (0.2), suggesting that, after injection of a single bolus dose in children, propofol is distributed rapidly to the shallow compartment. The mean ratio of k31:k10 suggests that lipophilicity constrains return of the drug to the central compartment.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Jones
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chan
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Andrew
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D006207:Half-Life; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D015742:Propofol / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D015742:Propofol