title: Comparison of intravenous and endobronchial atropine: a pharmacokinetic and -dynamic study in pigs.
abstract: In an experimental animal study using adolescent pigs we compared the pharmacokinetics and -dynamics of atropine following intravenous injection (0.25 mg, n = 6) or endobronchial instillation (2 mg, n = 6). Results showed that endobronchial atropine is rapidly absorbed by the pulmonary circulation, resulting in a peak plasma concentration of 48.8 +/- 25.9 ng ml-1 (mean +/- SD) after 2 min, compared to 46.3 +/- 16.7 ng ml-1 in the first min after intravenous injection. A first increase in heart rate could be observed within 1 min after both routes of drug administration. Significant changes in heart rate were found 9-30 min after endobronchial and 12-15 min after intravenous medication, with a maximum after 9 min (+57%) and 12 min (+24%), respectively. Mean bioavailability of atropine following the endobronchial route reached only 23% during the first 6 h when compared to intravenous administration. In light of this reduced bioavailability, we suggest an adult dosage in humans of atropine 2 mg diluted in 5-10 ml of saline administered endobronchially to attain a reliable increase in heart rate during a cardiac emergency when, in an intubated individual, no intravenous line is readily available.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anaesthesiology, University of Bonn, FRG.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hörnchen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schüttler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stoeckel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ensing
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Zeeuw
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eichelkraut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D001682:Biological Availability; D001980:Bronchi; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001285:Atropine