title: Effects of alfentanil on cerebral haemodynamics in an experimental model of traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Alfentanil is reported to increase intracranial pressure (ICP) after neurotrauma. A direct cerebral vasodilator effect has been postulated. We studied 17 Sprague-Dawley rats allocated to one of three groups. Animals were anaesthetized and their lungs ventilated, and arterial pressure, ICP and/or regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements were undertaken. Group 1 (n = 6) received a severe closed head injury while group 2 (n = 5) received no injury. ICP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured before, during and after rapid infusion of alfentanil 250, 500 and 750 micrograms kg-1. CBF was measured by hydrogen clearance before rapid infusions and at 30-min intervals after starting a subsequent slow infusion of alfentanil 500 micrograms kg-1 h-1. Group 3 (n = 6) underwent CBF measurement only, for comparison with those of groups 1 and 2. They received an injury but no alfentanil. ICP or MAP values did not differ significantly between groups 1 and 2. Rapid i.v. doses of alfentanil produced increases in ICP and reductions in MAP. ICP changes were consistent with a drug effect (P < 0.001) but were small. Reductions in MAP were significant (P < 0.05) and preceded changes in ICP. CBF values were similar and unaffected by slow alfentanil infusion in groups 1 and 2, and did not differ significantly between groups 1 and 3. We conclude that alfentanil did not appear to exert a direct effect on the cerebral circulation. Changes in ICP after rapid infusion were secondary to reductions in SAP. Slow infusion did not cause such changes.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Souter
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Piper
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D015760:Alfentanil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil