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Pulmonary disposition of pethidine in postoperative patients.
Author(s) -
Persson MP,
Hartvig P,
Wiklund L,
Paalzow L
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1988.tb03296.x
Subject(s) - pethidine , pharmacokinetics , volume of distribution , anesthesia , medicine , extraction ratio , blood sampling , elimination rate constant , extraction (chemistry) , pharmacology , chromatography , chemistry , analgesic
1. Two methods of pethidine administration, namely constant‐rate infusion and single i.v. injection, were used to assess the pulmonary disposition of the drug in 10 postoperative patients. Using two sites of blood sampling, the pulmonary extraction ratio was determined. 2. Pronounced pulmonary uptake of pethidine was found in all patients (n = 10). On the other hand, there was no significant evidence of pulmonary clearance. 3. The mean total plasma clearance was 810 ml min‐1 and the volume of distribution was 3.11 kg‐1. 4. A flow model was used to describe the disposition of pethidine in man. The concentration‐time profiles calculated by the model were in accordance with observed data. The data showed that both pulmonary uptake and pulmonary release of pethidine were rapid. 5. Constant‐rate infusion was found advantageous in the determination of pulmonary extraction, with respect to the accuracy and precision of the results. The extraction obtained after a single injection may be overestimated on account of uptake of the drug by the lungs.