Pharmacokinetics of methylmethacrylate monomer during total hip replacement in man.

The concentration of methylmethacrylate monomer (MMA) in the blood stream after implantation of the components of 15 total hip prostheses using bone cement was determined in the pulmonary artery, the radial artery, and the superior vena cava after cement application, and correlated with the observed drop in blood pressure and the increase in the pulmonary arterial pressure. In all samples MMA was found. The values ranged from 0.02 micrograms/ml to 59 micrograms/ml. The mean maximum value after implantation of the stem was measured to be 7.8 micrograms/ml in the pulmonary artery, 4.6 micrograms/ml in the radial artery, and 1.75 micrograms/ml in the superior vena cava. After implantation of t…