Sufentanil pharmacokinetics in a full-term neonate treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report

Introduction: Sufentanil is a potent analgesic drug used for pain management. A few studies describe the pharmacokinetics of sufentanil in neonates; however, no pharmacokinetic data about sufentanil during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation have been published yet. Case report: A 1-day-old neonate with moderate hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy received veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for refractory respiratory and circulatory failure. Sufentanil plasma concentrations were determined during both extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n=14) and non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n=17) period. Based on these measurements, individual sufentanil pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Discussion: We observed increased sufentanil volume of distribution (11.6 vs 5.6 L/kg) and decreased sufentanil clearance (0.535 vs 0.746 L/h/kg) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation period. The increment of volume of distribution was attributed to ECMO influence, while difference in clearance was probably due to drug interaction. Conclusions: This is the first description of sufentanil pharmacokinetics in neonate treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We observed considerably larger volume of distribution during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation period in comparison with non–extracorporeal membrane oxygenation period.

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