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Effect of alfentanil on intracranial pressure during propofol–fentanyl anesthesia for craniotomy. A randomized prospective dose–response study
Author(s) -
Olsen K. S.,
Juul N.,
Cold G. E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00648.x
Subject(s) - alfentanil , medicine , anesthesia , fentanyl , propofol , intracranial pressure , bolus (digestion) , cerebral perfusion pressure , mean arterial pressure , blood pressure , craniotomy , hemodynamics , cerebral blood flow , surgery , heart rate
Background: The effect of alfentanil on intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with supratentorial cerebral tumors has only been sparsely examined and with somewhat contradictory results. Methods: Thirty‐one patients were anesthetized with propofol and fentanyl. After removal of the bone flap a bolus‐dose of alfentanil 10 (group 1), 20 (group 2), or 30 µg kg −1 (group 3) was administered followed by an infusion of 10, 20, or 30 µg·kg −1 ·h −1 to patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A control group received no alfentanil. Subdural ICP, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were monitored and arterial and jugular bulb blood were sampled before and every minute for 5 min after the bolus administration of alfentanil and again after 5 min of hyperventilation to be able to calculate cerebral arterio‐venous oxygen content difference (AVDO 2 ) and carbon dioxide reactivity (CO 2 ‐reactivity). Results: No changes in subdural ICP or AVDO 2 from alfentanil in the study period were observed within the groups. However, alfentanil decreased MAP and CPP. The maximum CPP decrease (mean value of each group) was 4 mmHg, 8 mmHg, and 18 mmHg in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no difference between groups as regards the CO 2 ‐reactivity. Conclusion: We conclude that administration of alfentanil to propofol‐fentanyl anesthetized patients with supratentorial cerebral tumors decreases MAP and CPP in a dose‐related way, but does not influence subdural ICP, AVDO 2 or the CO 2 ‐reactivity.