[Comparative study of analgesia and plasma level following rectal, intramuscular and intravenous administration of ketamine].

Ketamine 25 mg/kg was administered to five foxhounds by the intravenous, intramuscular or rectal route. Plasma concentrations were measured by gas-chromatography and analgesia was tested by two techniques. Intravenous application gave reliable analgesia and well reproducible plasma levels in all subjects. Distribution and elimination half lives were found to be 6 min and 55 min, respectively. Intramuscular injection resulted in peak-plasma levels around the twentieth minute, elimination half life was fifty-two minutes, bioavailability 90%. Analgesia proved satisfactory in four out of the five subjects and lasted longer than after intravenous injection. The rectal route produced a wide range of peak-plasma levels, the average peak appearing after 40 min. We found an elimination halflife of 43 min and a bioavailability of 30%. Analgesia was poor in four out of the five subjects. The low plasma levels following rectal application are due to the poor bioavailability and this appears to be the reason for the unsatisfactory results with this route of administration. Bioavailability depends on the site of application (drainage mainly through the vena cava or portal vein) and the pH of the rectum.