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Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure in normocapnic volunteers in response to nalbuphine

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Summary

We have carried out a double-blind randomized study of the effect of nalbuphine (0.2 mg·kg−1 i. v.) or placebo on mean lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, mean cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), transcutaneous PCO 2 (tcPCO 2), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) in 10 spontaneously breathing volunteers using invasive CSF pressure measurement.

Nalbuphine increased CSF pressure from 9.2 mm Hg to 16.4 mm Hg and decreased CPP from 83.6 mm Hg to 74.4 mm Hg without significantly changing tcPCO 2, MAP, or heart rate. In the placebo group there were no significant changes in CSF pressure, CPP, tcPCO 2, MAP, or heart rate.

These findings suggest that nalbuphine should be used with caution in patients at risk of intracranial hypertension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anaesthesia, University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    A. Benzer, R. Häussler, A. Faserl & D. Balogh

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    L. Russegger

Authors
  1. A. Benzer
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  2. R. Häussler
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  3. L. Russegger
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  4. A. Faserl
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  5. D. Balogh
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Benzer, A., Häussler, R., Russegger, L. et al. Increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure in normocapnic volunteers in response to nalbuphine. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 43, 193–195 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01740670

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01740670

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