title: Ropivacaine pharmacokinetics after caudal block in 1-8 year old children.
abstract: We studied the pharmacokinetics after caudal block of ropivacaine (2 mg ml-1, 1 ml kg-1) performed in 20 children aged 1-8 yr undergoing subumbilical surgery, in this open, non-comparative, multicentre study. Venous blood samples were collected up to 12-36 h. The mean (SD) peak plasma concentration, 0.47 (0.16) mg litre-1, was achieved after 12-249 min. The free fraction was 5% and the highest individual peak plasma concentration of free ropivacaine was 0.04 mg litre-1. Clearance was 7.4 (1.9) ml min-1 kg-1 and the terminal half-life 3.2 (0.8) h. Thus, the free plasma concentrations of ropivacaine were well below those associated with toxic symptoms in adults and the capacity to eliminate ropivacaine seems to be well developed in this age group. In this open study of 20 patients, ropivacaine was well tolerated and provided satisfactory postoperative pain relief without observable motor block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, KS/Astrid Lindgren's Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lönnqvist
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Westrin
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lybeck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huledal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielenstein
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077212:Ropivacaine
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine