Disposition kinetics of ropivacaine in humans. Anesth Analg 1989;69:7364 The pharrnacokinetic characteristics of a new local anesthetic drug, ropivacaine, were determined after intravenous infusion of 50 mg of the hydrochloride salt into six healthy male volunteers. Results showed that the disposition of ropivacaine can be described by a biexponential function. Its blood clearance (0.72 2 0.16 Llmin) is intermediate between that of mepivacaine and bupivacaine. Plasma binding averaged 94% * 1 % and the volume of distribution at steady sfate based on blood drug concentration was 59 * 7 L. The terminal elimination half-life was 211 ? 62 min.

Adrenalectomy for melanoma metastatic to the adrenal gland provides good palliation of symptoms and is associated with prolonged survival in a selected cohort of patients. We report for the first time sustained complete regression of distant metastatic melanoma after bilateral adrenalectomy, suggesting a possible role for adrenal hormones in modifying melanoma progression in certain patients.