title: Plasma ropivacaine levels following scalp block for awake craniotomy.
abstract: The plasma levels of ropivacaine HCl with 5 mcg/mL epinephrine were measured in 10 patients following scalp blockade for awake craniotomy. A mean dose of 260 mg (3.6 mg/kg) resulted in peak plasma concentrations of 1.5 +/- 0.6 mcg/mL, with a median time to peak plasma concentration of 15 minutes. The pattern of rise of plasma level was similar in all patients and rapid compared with other regional blocks (epidural, intercostal, and axillary brachial plexus block). Despite this rapid rise of plasma level, no signs of cardiovascular or central nervous system toxicity were observed. In this group of patients undergoing awake craniotomy for excision of lesions in the eloquent areas of the cerebral cortex, ropivacaine HCl with epinephrine appeared to be a safe and effective local anesthetic agent in the dosages used.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Timothy Gerard
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: John Raymond
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cormack
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: Valena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Braniff
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000577:Amides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D003399:Craniotomy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D012535:Scalp; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine