title: Nicardipine: perioperative applications in children.
abstract: Nicardipine is the first intravenously administered dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Its primary physiological actions include vasodilatation with limited effects on the inotropic and dromotropic function of the myocardium. Several reports have documented its use in adult patients for pharmacological control of blood pressure. We present our experience with the perioperative use of nicardipine in children to treat intraoperative hypertension, as an agent for controlled hypotension during spinal fusion and LeFort I maxillary osteotomies and to treat postoperative hypertension. Dosing regimens and possible applications in paediatric anaesthesia are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007023:Hypotension, Controlled; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007796:Laminectomy; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009529:Nicardipine