Pharmacokinetics of Serum Glycerol and Changes of ICP: Comparison of Gastric and Duodenal Administration

Abstract

To investigate the more effective route of oral administration of glycerol to decrease the raised ICP, two different routes were employed in the clinical practice. The one was through a Naso-Gastric tube, and the other was through an Entero-Duodenal tube. Pharmacokinetics of glycerol in relation to the decrease of ICP, and the changes of other parameters which could influence the serum osmotic pressure were sequentially monitored for initial 30 minutes. In the group of Entero-Duodenal route, the time to reach to the maximum glycerol concentration (Tmax) was faster, the maximum concentration of glycerol (Cmas) was higher, and ICP reduction rate was greater than these in the group of Naso-Gastric route. Other parameters (Na, K, BUN and Glucose) showed no significant difference between the two routes. It can be concluded that the Entero-Duodenal administration of glycerol is the more effective route to decrease the raised ICP, when it is administered orally.