title: Pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluation of ketamine administered by i.v. and epidural routes.
abstract: The evolution of the plasma levels of ketamine and its two biotransformation products, norketamine (metabolite I) and dehydronorketamine (metabolite II) was studied after i.v. and epidural administration at doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg, respectively. The results show a good access capacity of ketamine from the epidural space to the systemic circulation as reflected in the high value of its apparent incorporation constant (ka = 5.54 +/- 2.33 h-1) and its good bioavailability (F = 0.77 +/- 0.22). The evaluation of clinical parameters points to a more attenuated cardiovascular and respiratory response after administration of the anesthetic by the epidural route.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C033420:5,6-dehydronorketamine; D007649:Ketamine; C033419:norketamine