The effects of acute high dose fentanyl administration on experimental brain edema: analysis of intracranial pressure, systemic arterial pressure, central venous pressure and brain water content.
In rabbits who had brain edema and intracranial hypertension induced by a combined cold lesion (over the left hemisphere) and a metabolic blocker (6-aminonicotinamide), the authors analyzed the response of multiple parameters following the administration of 6 mcg/kg/dose of fentanyl every 5 minutes for 1 hour (12 doses), combined with nitrous oxide anesthesia. All animals were mechanically ventilated and the PaCO2 was maintained at 37-43 torr. Gross pathology and extent of Evans Blue extravasation was no different from pretreatment control animals. The systolic arterial pressure and the central venous pressure showed no change during the experiment. The intracranial pressure remained elevated despite fentanyl, but did not increase or decrease throughout the administration of the agent. The brain water content remained unchanged in the right hemisphere, but revealed a significant increase following fentanyl in the cold-lesioned left hemisphere for the gray (p less than 0.005) and white matter (p less than 0.05).
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000628:therapy*; D002496:Central Venous Pressure; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D011817:Rabbits; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D014867:Water; D005283:Fentanyl