Alteration in gentamicin pharmacokinetics in acute traumatic paraplegics.

Interruption of the neuraxis in the 'spinal cord injured' (SCI), brings about several pathophysiological changes in human body such as increase in total extracellular fluid volume, loss of venomotor tone. venopooling, and a change in the body adipose tissue consistency (1,2). To what extent these changes affect drug disposition kinetics and metabolism in the acute spinal man has not been clearly elucidated (3). SCI patients frequently develop urinary tract infection and gentamicin which is commonly used for treatment of such cases was chosen to study the pharmacokinetics in the acute spinal cord injured. Following intravenous administration, the elimination kinetics of gentamicin are accurately characterised by a first order process and a one compartment-open model once equilibration has occurred at the end of the distribution phase.