A COMPARISON OF THE SERUM CONCENTRATION TIME-CURVES OF AMIKACIN-ADMINISTERED PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER OPEN-HEART-SURGERY

The effects of open heart surgery on amikacin concentration time-curve s were investigated in eight patients who were scheduled for open hear t surgery at a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department. A 500 m g single dose of amikacin was administered parenterally to the volunte ers pre- and postoperatively and the serum concentration time-curves w ere compared. Serum amikacin levels after pre-operative intramuscular (IM) administration did not reach therapeutic values. By comparison, p reoperative and postoperative IM or intravenously (IV) administration resulted in therapeutic serum amikacin levels. It was concluded that I M administration preoperatively was not appropriate. Serum levels of a mikacin were also shown to fall below therapeutic values 8 h after adm inistration. It is recommended that dosing intervals with amikacin sho uld not exceed 8 h.