Effects of surgery on the pharmacokinetic parameters of drugs

As with other forms of stress, surgery is a time of fluctuating haemodynamics, physiological shifts, intense metabolic changes, and protein catabolism and anabolism. At times, these changes can occur within hours. There is a reasonable body of literature concerning the adverse effects of surgery on gastric emptying, but not on the effects of surgery on the distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs. Gastric emptying is diminished or absent following major procedures, which prevent the delivery of orally administered drugs to their major site of absorption, the small bowel. Changes in the paracellular absorption of drugs may occur postoperatively, although transcellular absorption appears to be unimpaired. Distribution is affected by changes in blood volume, alterations in circulation, increases in the extracellular fluid and changes in the circulating plasma protein levels, such as albumin and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. Little is known about alterations in drug metabolism following surgery. However, it has been shown that systemic hypoxia alters the function of some of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system and increased levels of cytokines have an effect on the metabolism of at least 1 drug. In addition, the renal elimination of drugs is affected in patients postoperatively, although the effects of biliary clearance in this period are difficult to determine. Despite the lack of research into pharmacokinetics during the postoperative period, and given the immense and often sudden changes observed in patients post-surgery, it is reasonable to recommend vigilance with respect to drug therapy during this period.