title: Alfentanil increases intracranial pressure when intracranial compliance is low.
abstract: Intracranial pressure increases following the administration of alfentanil 1 mg are reported in five patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus who were undergoing infusion of saline into a lateral ventricle to measure cerebrospinal fluid outflow resistance. The increase in intracranial pressure was accompanied by a fall in mean arterial pressure. These observations show that, when the intracranial compliance is reduced, alfentanil can cause considerable increases in intracranial pressure and decreases in cerebral perfusion pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, General Infirmary, Leeds.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015760:Alfentanil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000698:Analgesia; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015760:Alfentanil