[Infusion model for etomidate (author's transl)]

An intravenous infusion scheme was established in five healthy volunteers on the basis of pharmacokinetic analysis as described by J.G. Wagner. Concentrations of etomidate in plasma were measured by gas chromatography after solvent extraction. The monitoring of EEG background activity was used for the correlation to the pharmacodynamic effect. The minimal plasma level producing an hypnotic effect was about 0.3 microgram/ml) etomidate. An infusion model was developed for a therapeutic plasma concentration of 0.5 microgram/ml etomidate. An initial fast constant-rate infusion (8 mg/min) was followed by an infusion with 0.8 mg/min for the entire duration of the application. The measured plasma levels coincided fairly well with the predicted steady state plasma levels and were accompanied by a distinct hypnotic effect in all volunteers.