# Pharmacokinetics of desflurane uptake and disposition in piglets

## TL;DR

This study examines how desflurane is absorbed and eliminated in piglets, finding that it follows specific kinetic patterns over time.

## Contribution

The study provides new pharmacokinetic data on desflurane in piglets using arterial and venous blood measurements.

## Key findings

- Desflurane body uptake in piglets follows zero-order kinetics during the initial phase.
- Arterial and venous blood concentrations best fit a two-compartment model.
- Only 21.9% of administered desflurane was eliminated after 2 hours.

## Abstract

Many respiratory but few arterial blood pharmacokinetics of desflurane uptake and disposition have been investigated. We explored the pharmacokinetic parameters in piglets by comparing inspiratory, end-tidal, arterial blood, and mixed venous blood concentrations of desflurane.

Seven piglets were administered inspiratory 6% desflurane by inhalation over 2 h, followed by a 2-h disposition phase. Inspiratory and end-tidal concentrations were detected using an infrared analyzer. Femoral arterial blood and pulmonary artery mixed venous blood were sampled to determine desflurane concentrations by gas chromatography at 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100, and 120 min during each uptake and disposition phase. Respiratory and hemodynamic parameters were measured simultaneously. Body uptake and disposition rates were calculated by multiplying the difference between the arterial and pulmonary artery blood concentrations by the cardiac output.

The rates of desflurane body uptake increased considerably in the initial 5 min (79.8 ml.min−1) and then declined slowly until 120 min (27.0 ml.min−1). Similar characteristics of washout were noted during the subsequent disposition phase. Concentration–time curves of end-tidal, arterial, and pulmonary artery blood concentrations fitted well to zero-order input and first-order disposition kinetics. Arterial and pulmonary artery blood concentrations were best fitted using a two-compartment model. After 2 h, only 21.9% of the desflurane administered had been eliminated from the body.

Under a fixed inspiratory concentration, desflurane body uptake in piglets corresponded to constant zero-order infusion, and the 2-h disposition pattern followed first-order kinetics and best fitted to a two-compartment model.