[Diffusion of imipenem in synovial fluid]. / Diffusion de l'imipénème dans le liquide synovial.

The diffusion of imipenem (IMP) in the knee joint was studied after a 1 g i.v. administration of Tienam over one hour. The synovial fluid was collected under anesthesia during arthroscopy carried out for mechanical lesions of the knee (meniscal lesions after ligamental injuries or sequelae after meniscectomy), in 3 groups of six patients at one, two, or three hours after the end of injection of IMP. The concentrations of IMP determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were: 42.5, 20.1, 9.3 and 5.7 mg/l in the blood at T0, T1, T2 and T3 hr, respectively; 20.4, 13.0 and 7.9 mg/l in the synovial fluid at T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The decrease of IMP concentrations in the synovial fluid was 1,5 times as low as in serum. On account of its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and our data, IMP could be used in perioperative prophylaxis of the knee joint surgery.

[Intraocular penetration of topical norfloxacin in humans. Preliminary study]. / Pénétration intra-camérulaire de la norfloxacine locale chez l'homme. Etude préliminaire.

The aim of this bicentric study was to assess the intraocular penetration of topical Norfloxacin. Herein, are only reported the results from one center. Topically applied Norfloxacin 0.3% was given to patients who underwent cataract surgery. The first group received 5 drops between 7.55 A.M. to 8 A.M. and after each hour until cataract surgery. The second one received one drop each quarter from 7 A.M. until the surgery. Aqueous and sera samples were dosed using HPLC. In the first group, the aqueous average was 0.066 mg/l and 0.112 mg/l in the second group. Using a T test and Mann Whitney test, we could not find a significant difference between the two groups.

[Pharmacokinetics of dextromoramide in the surgical patient]. / Pharmacocinétique du dextromoramide chez l'opéré.

The pharmacokinetics of dextromoramide were studied in nine patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery. All the patients were anaesthetised with thiopentone and vecuronium. After tracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with 0.5 to 1.5 vol % halothane and a 60%-40% vol nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture. Once the patient's status was stable, a 0.8 mg.kg-1 bolus of dextromoramide was given intravenously. Blood samples were obtained 2, 5, 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, and 420 min afterwards by an arterial catheter. Dextromoramide serum concentrations were measured with high performance liquid chromatography after extraction with an original technique. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by computer using TRIOMPHE. In five patients, a bi-exponential equation best fitted the results, whereas a tri-exponential equation was necessary for the other four. Mean elimination half-life was 215.3 +/- 78.4 min, and the apparent final volume of distribution was 0.58 +/- 0.20 l.kg-1. Hepatic extraction was low, as shown by a mean systemic clearance of 2.0 +/- 0.9 ml.kg-1.min-1. Liposolubility of this drug is the highest of all opiates, with a heptane/water partition coefficient of 12.3. These parameters demonstrate that, in the opiate drug group, dextromoramide has a place apart from the others.