Abstract
We measured plasma concentrations of mepivacaine in 32 pediatric patients who were administered postoperative-epidural analgesia after epidural anesthesia. A continuous infusion of 1% mepivacaine was initiated at a rate of 0.2ml/kg/hr (maximum 8ml/hr) for postoperative analgesia. Blood samples were taken before starting infusion and 6, 18, 24 and 48 hrs thereafter. Concentrations of mepivacaine at each time point were 3.2±0.9μg/ml (n=32), 2.0±0.6μg/ml (n=22), 2.4±0.5μg/ml (n=23), 2.6±1.3μg/ml (n=9) and 2.7±1.5μg/ml (n=7). Concentrations of mepivacaine in blood samples at 6hrs were significant-ly lower than those taken before infusion, and plasma levels increased gradually thereafter. mepivacaine remained below the toxic level at all timepoints.
