Alfentanil pharmacokinetics in piglets with increased intra-abdominal pressure.

Increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) occurs in pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease and ascites, as well as in children following surgery for diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, gastroschisis and orthotopic liver transplantation. Although the hemodynamic response to increased IAP is well described, little information is available regarding the effects of IAP on drug distribution and elimination. We studied the effects of increased IAP (20 mm Hg) on the pharmacokinetics of alfentanil in piglets and compared these findings with those in control animals. Increased IAP appears to have no significant effect on the volume of distribution (0.46 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.23 liter/kg), mean residence time (68.8 +/- 27.8 vs. 62.3 +/- 27.8 min) and elimination half-life (47.7 +/- 19.0 vs. 43.2 +/- 19.3 min).