Pharmacokinetics of sufentanil administered with 0.2% ropivacaine as a continuous epidural infusion for postoperative pain relief in infants

Abstract

Elimination of sufentanil following epidural administration was very slow, with MRT = 28.25 [18.36-44.75] h and t1/2 MRT = 19.57 [12.72-31.01] h. In infants, during a long-term infusion of sufentanil with ropivacaine, the opioid concentration in plasma increases during the postoperative infusion itself, then increases even further after discontinuation of the infusion, in some cases reaching the values consistent with a potential risk of respiratory depression. Meticulous monitoring of the infants' vital signs is therefore mandatory not only during the infusion, but also for several hours after its discontinuation.