Population Pharmacokinetics of IV Phenobarbital in Neonates After Congenital Heart Surgery

Objectives: To develop a population pharmacokinetic model for IV phenobarbital in neonates following cardiac surgery and perform simulations to identify optimal dosing regimens. Design: Retrospective single-center pharmacokinetic study. Setting: Cardiac ICU at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Patients: Consecutive neonates who received greater than or equal to one dose of IV phenobarbital and had greater than or equal to one phenobarbital concentration drawn per standard of care from June 15, 2012, to October 15, 2018. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Simulations were performed using the final model variables. Optimal phenobarbital loading doses were determined based on attainment of peak and maintenance concentrations between 20 and 40 mg/L. A total of 37 neonates contributed 159 pharmacokinetic samples. The median (range) weight, postmenstrual age, and postnatal age were 3.2 kg (1.3-3.8), 39 2/7 weeks (28 2/7 to 42 6/7), and 5 days (0-26 d), respectively. Twelve patients (32%) were on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. An one-compartment model best described the data. The final population pharmacokinetic model included (1) weight and postnatal age for clearance and (2) weight, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and albumin for volume of distribution. In neonates not on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, loading doses of 30 and 20 mg/kg reached goal concentration with albumin values less than or equal to 3 and 3.5 mg/dL, respectively. Loading doses of 30 mg/kg reached goal concentration on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation regardless of albumin values. Maintenance doses of 4-5 mg/kg/d reached goal concentration in all neonates. Conclusions: In neonates following cardiac surgery, phenobarbital clearance increased with postnatal age. Volume of distribution increased with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and lower albumin values. Loading doses of 30 mg/kg on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and 20-30 mg/kg without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were needed to reach goal concentration based on simulations.