title: A comparison of plasma levobupivacaine concentrations following transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block.
abstract: Levobupivacaine is commonly used as the local anaesthetic of choice in peripheral nerve blocks, but its pharmacokinetics have not been fully investigated. We compared the changes in plasma concentrations of levobupivacaine following transversus abdominis plane block and rectus sheath block. Fifty woman undergoing laparoscopy were randomly allocated to receive either a transversus abdominis plane block or an rectus sheath block. In both groups, 2.5 mg.kg(-1) levobupivacaine was administered, and blood samples were obtained 15 min, 30 min, 60 min and 120 min after injection. The mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and mean time to reach Cmax (Tmax) as determined by non-linear regression analysis were 1.05 μg.ml(-1) and 32.4 min in the transversus abdominis plane group and 0.95 μg.ml(-1) and 60.9 min in the rectus sheath group, respectively. The plasma concentration of levobupivacaine peaked earlier in the transversus abdominis plane group than in the rectus sheath group and the maximum plasma concentration depended on the dose administered but not the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Toho University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ochiai
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D034861:Abdominal Wall; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine
keywords: anaesthetic absorption: regional anaesthetic techniques; local anaesthetic: concentration calculation; local anaesthetics: systemic toxicity