Mass-spectrometry analysis of disflurane, propofol, and fentanyl in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

Concentrations of anesthetic agents were measured in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid using mass spectrometry with a membrane interface. Sampling of biological fluids was performed during balanced inhalational (disflurane and fentanyl) anesthesia and total intravenous (propofol and fentanyl) anesthesia. A rapid test method for the concentration measurement of organic molecules in biological fluids is described. This method does not require long-term sample processing before injecting the sample into the mass spectrometer interface. The pervaporation properties (uptake, diffusion, and evaporation) of anesthetic agents from biological fluids in a silicone membrane were used in the mass spectrometry interface. We report on the possibility of using a mass spectrometer with a membrane interface for the measurement of the absolute concentration of anesthetic agents in blood plasma for study of the properties of the blood–brain barrier.