Nicardipine infusion for postoperative hypertension after surgery of the head and neck.
The therapy of postoperative hypertension (POH) after head and neck surgery was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Nicardipine hydrochloride, a Ca channel-blocker for iv use, was compared with placebo. Patients were initially randomized to receive nicardipine infusion or placebo. Those not responding to placebo were given nicardipine infusion on an open basis. Hypertension was significantly better controlled in patients treated with nicardipine infusion compared with placebo (83% vs. 22%, p less than .002). Subsequently, six (86%) of seven of the placebo failures were successfully treated with nicardipine. There were no significant complications in either group. We conclude that the titratable infusion of nicardipine is an effective and safe method for the control of POH after surgery of the head and neck. Further studies are now warranted comparing nicardipine with other drugs currently used to treat this condition.
Halpern
N A
NA
Department of Surgical Critical Care, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468.
Sladen
R N
RN
Goldberg
J S
JS
Neely
C
C
Wood
M
M
Alicea
M
M
Krakoff
L R
LR
Greenstein
R
R
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D009529:Nicardipine