Summary
In the present study 21 patients undergoing retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP)
were given cefamandol, cefazolin or cefaclor, and plasma and bile concentrations were
measured. The cannulation of the common bile duct was possible in most of the patients
investigated, but no bile could be obtained in 7 of them. In the patients in whom
bile was obtained, concentrations comparable to other studies were estimated, despite
a wide variation in the individual patients. In addition, cefaclor, which is not known
to be excreted in the bile, showed sufficiently high inhibitory bile concentrations.
Using ERCP for the estimation of bile concentrations of different drugs useful information
can be obtained about the excretion of certain substances. However, for sophisticated
pharmacokinetic studies, the method has certain limitations as compared with classical
T-tube sampling.
Key words:
ERCP - Biliary excretion - Antibiotics
