Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40724946›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Evaluation of Ropivacaine and 3-OH-Ropivacaine Pharmacokinetics Following Interpectoral Nerve Block via LC-MS/MS-A Pilot Study.

Mihaela Butiulca, Lenard Farczadi, Silvia Imre, Camil Eugen Vari, Laurian Vlase, Leonard Azamfirei, Alexandra Elena Lazar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Mihaela ButiulcaDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of General Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0009-0003-9666-0862
Lenard FarczadiChromatography and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-0834-1614
Silvia ImreChromatography and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Camil Eugen VariDepartment of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.
Laurian VlaseDepartment of Pharmaceutic Technology and Biopharmacy, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-0664-3387
Leonard AzamfireiDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of General Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-3220-2267
Alexandra Elena LazarDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of General Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.

Funding

the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology "George Emil Palade" of Targu Mures 163/5/10.01.2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Regional anesthesia techniques such as the ultrasound-guided PECS II (pectoral nerve block) block are increasingly employed to optimize perioperative analgesia while minimizing systemic anesthetic exposure. Ropivacaine is commonly used for its favorable pharmacological profile; however, clinical data on its pharmacokinetics and systemic metabolite behavior following interpectoral administration remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the plasma concentration-time profile of ropivacaine and its main active metabolite, 3-OH-ropivacaine, in patients undergoing interpectoral nerve block, using a validated LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) method. Venous blood samples were collected from 18 patients at predefined time points (0, 1, 3, 6, and 24 h) following a PECS II block performed with a ropivacaine-lidocaine mixture. Plasma concentrations were quantified via a validated LC-MS/MS protocol in accordance with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and EMA (European Medicines Agency) guidelines. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using non-compartmental analysis. Ropivacaine reached a mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax-maximum concentration) of 167.5 ± 28.3 ng/mL at 1.3 ± 0.2 h (Tmax-maximum time). The metabolite 3-OH-ropivacaine peaked at 124.1 ± 21.4 ng/mL at 2.3 ± 0.3 h. The terminal elimination half-life was 19.4 ± 2.8 h for ropivacaine and 29.2 ± 3.1 h for its metabolite. Plasma levels demonstrated prolonged systemic exposure with predictable pharmacokinetics. The PECS II block using ropivacaine results in sustained systemic levels of both the parent drug and its primary metabolite, supporting its role in prolonged perioperative analgesia. These data provide a pharmacokinetic foundation for personalized regional anesthesia protocols. This strategy facilitates the adaptation of anesthetic protocols to the individual characteristics of each patient, aligning with the principles of personalized medicine, particularly in patients with altered metabolic capacity.

Indexed as

Anesthetics, LocalNerve BlockRopivacaineAdultAgedChromatography, LiquidFemaleHumansLiquid Chromatography-Mass SpectrometryMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsTandem Mass SpectrometryAnesthetics, LocalRopivacaine3-OH-ropivacainebioanalysisLC-MS/MSPECS II blockpharmacokineticsregional anesthesiaropivacaine

Identifiers

PMID40724946
PMCPMC12295952

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.