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Plasma concentrations of alfentanil following epidural administration
Author(s) -
LELY F. HAAK,
BURM A. G. L.,
KLEEF J. W.,
BOVILL J. G.,
VLETTER A. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1994.tb04256.x
Subject(s) - alfentanil , medicine , anesthesia , epidural administration , epidural space , sufentanil , nitrous oxide , plasma concentration , halothane , bupivacaine , pharmacology , propofol
Summary The plasma concentration‐time profile of alfentanil following epidural administration was determined in eight patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery under nitrous oxide (66%)‐oxygen (33%)‐halothane (0.3%) anaesthesia, supplemented with intravenous sufentanil. Alfentanil (1 mg) was administered epidurally before induction of general anaesthesia. Blood samples for the determination of plasma alfentanil concentrations by capillary gas chromatography were collected at intervals until 12h after the epidural injection. Peak plasma concentrations [mean (SD)] were 9.7 (2.3)ng.ml ‐1 , and were attained in a median (range) time of 90 (30‐120) min. The results suggest that alfentanil is slowly absorbed from the epidural space into the general circulation.