PHARMACOKINETICS AND VENTILATORY EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS OXYCODONE IN POSTOPERATIVE CHILDREN

1 Oxycodone hydrochloride (0.1 mg kg(-1)) was given by intravenous bol us to 18 children after ophthalmic surgery. Plasma was sampled for up to 8 h. Blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral arteriolar oxygen satur ation, end-tidal carbon dioxide and halothane concentrations and venti latory rate were also recorded. 2 Mean (+/-s.d.) values of drug cleara nce and volume of distribution (V-ss) were 15.2 +/- 4.2 ml min(-1) kg( -1) and 2.1 +/- 0.8 1 kg(-1). Maximum mean end-tidal carbon dioxide co ncentration and;minimum mean ventilatory rate occurred 8 min after adm inistration of oxycodone but the minimum mean peripheral arteriolar ox ygen saturation occurred at 4 min. 3 Oxycodone (0.1 mg kg(-1)) appears to cause greater ventilatory depression than comparable analgesic dos es of other opioids.