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Pharmacokinetics of rectal paracetamol after major surgery in children
Author(s) -
Brian J. Anderson,
G A Woolard,
Nicholas Holford
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9592.1995.tb00291.x
Subject(s) - medicine , antipyretic , analgesic , pharmacokinetics , anesthesia , plasma concentration , acetaminophen , elective surgery , surgery , pharmacology
SUMMARY Glycogelatin capsular suppositories containing a paracetamol slurry 40 mg·kg ‐1 were given PR to 20 children (12 months‐17 yrs) after major orthopaedic surgery and plasma concentrations of paracetamol measured for up to 18 h. The mean maximum concentration ( C max ) was 0.115 (SD 0.049) mmol·l ‐1 . Peak concentration occurred ( T max ) at 2.3 (SD 1.2) h. Mean concentration was 0.07 (SD 0.03) mmol·l ‐1 at six h. Apparent paracetamol clearance was 5.8 ml·min ‐1 ·kg ‐1 . The plasma concentration of paracetamol associated with analgesic effectiveness in children is unknown, but antipyretic effects are seen in the range 0.066–0.130 mmol·l ‐1 . Paracetamol suppositories 40 mg·kg ‐1 given perioperatively achieve effective therapeutic antipyretic plasma concentrations within 1–2 h. The timing is coincident with the recovery phase of short duration paediatric surgery. The coefficient of variance of C max was 43%. Some individual patients may not achieve a C max which is therapeutic.