AMIKACIN ADMINISTRATION IN OPEN-HEART-SURGERY

Amikacin is usually administered to the patients during open heart sur gery immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because the serum levels of this drug may decrease due to the volume overload and hemodi lution caused by intravenously administered fluids (1.2-2 liters prime solution). We investigated whether this application of amikacin is ne cessary immediately after CPB. A total of ten patients from Dokuz Eylu l University Hospital, Department of Thorasic and Cardiovascular Surge ry, who were scheduled for open heart surgery were studied. Serum sodi um, potassium, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values of the patien ts were found to be within normal limits before the operation. Amikaci n was administered to patients just before open heart surgery and 2 ml blood samples were collected from all patients 15 minutes after the d rug administration, just before cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB), at the 30th and 60th minutes of the CPB, after CB and after the cessation of operation, 4 hours after drug administration. significant decrease was observed between the values-of 10 patients by ANOVA (p<0.05). Serum a mikacin values were found to be 9.80+/-0.96 mu g/ml at the end of the operation, 4 hours after the drug administration. Since serum amikacin levels do not fall below the trough concentrations at the end of the fourth hour we conclude that it is unnecessary to repeat the dose at t he end of the operation.