The pharmacokinetics of intravenous ketorolac in children aged 2 months to 16 years: A population analysis

James S McLay, Thomas Engelhardt, Baba S Mohammed, Gary Cameron, Mindy N Cohen, Jeffrey L Galinkin, Uwe Christians, Michael J Avram, Thomas K Henthorn, Richard M Dsida, Brian J Anderson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intravenous ketorolac is commonly administered to children for the control of postoperative pain. An effect site EC50 for analgesia of 0.37 mg. L-1 is described in adults.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to review age- and weight-related effects on ketorolac pharmacokinetic parameters in children and current dosing schedules.

METHODS: Pooled intravenous ketorolac (0.5 mg. kg-1 ) concentration-time data in children aged 2 months to 16 years were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects models. Allometry was used to scale to a 70 kg person.

RESULTS: There were 64 children aged 2 months to 16 years (641 plasma concentrations) available for analysis. A two-compartment mammillary model was used to describe pharmacokinetics. Clearance was 2.53 (CV 45.9%) L. h-1. 70 kg-1 and intercompartment clearance was 4.43 (CV 95.6%) L. h-1. 70 kg-1 . Both central (V1) and peripheral (V2) volumes of distribution decreased with age over the first few years of postnatal life to reach V1 6.89 (CV 30.3%) L. 70 kg-1 and V2 5.53 (CV 47.6%) L. 70 kg-1 .

CONCLUSION: Clearance, expressed as L. h-1. kg-1 , decreased with age from infancy. A dosing regimen of 0.5 mg. kg-1 every 6 hours maintains a trough concentration larger than 0.37 mg. L-1 in children 9 months to 16 years of age. This dosing regimen is consistent with current recommendations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)80-86
Number of pages7
JournalPediatric Anesthesia
Volume28
Issue number2
Early online date21 Dec 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Feb 2018

Bibliographical note

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was carried out under the auspices of the Scottish Children Research Network (ScotCRN), a center for mounting clinical trials and addressing the knowledge gaps in support of the effective and safe use of medicines in children.

Funding information: This work was funded from institutional resources.

Keywords

  • Journal Article
  • analgesia
  • child
  • ketorolac
  • nonlinear mixed-effects modellingnonlinear mixed-effects modellingnonlinear mixed-effects modellingnonlinear mixed-effects modellingnonlinear mixed-effects modellingnonlinear mixed-effects modelling
  • pharmacokinetics

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