Burn wound excision and massive blood transfusion did not affect perioperative vancomycin levels.
BACKGROUND
The effect of burns surgery that requires intraoperative transfusion of five or more units of blood on serum vancomycin levels was assessed.


METHODS
Serum vancomycin levels were measured 10 min and 6 h after vancomycin administration with surgery being performed in the interval. The following day the same dose of vancomycin was given and serum vancomycin levels measured at the same times without intervening surgery.


RESULTS
Thirteen operations involving nine patients who required a mean blood transfusion of 9.2 units were studied. There was very little difference between 10-min levels, 6-h levels and the change over interval (absolute and percentage) on the day of surgery and the following day. The recorded serum levels were often at the lower end of the desired range, especially in patients who underwent the larger operations. This was the case on both day of surgery and the control day.


CONCLUSIONS
Large volume blood loss and replacement during burns surgery did not significantly affect perioperative vancomycin levels. 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI.
Cameron
D R
DR
Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Muller
M J
MJ
Faoagali
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin