This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by White, D. A. Articles by Thorup, S. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by White, D. A. Articles by Thorup, S. J.

Decrease in Vascular Resistance in the Isolated Canine Hindlimb After Graded Doses of Alfentanil, Fentanyl, and Sufentanil

Received from the Department of Anesthesiology, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California.

Abstract

Under halothane anesthesia five dogs were prepared with both hindlimbs isolated from the systemic circulation to allow intermittent placement on extracorporeal perfusion at constant flow. One limb of each dog was surgically denervated. In this relatively anesthetic-free preparation, graded equivalent doses of alfentanil, fentanyl, and sufentanil were infused over 30 s, and vascular resistance was measured. Increasing opioid administration caused a progressive diminution in peripheral resistance. By the high dose level, alfentanil (500 µg/kg), fentanyl (50 µg/kg), and sufentanil (6 µg/kg) caused equal and significant decreases of 48%, 48%, and 44% in resistance, respectively. There was no difference among the opioids in effects on resistance at equivalent dosages. Neither pretreatment with naloxone nor denervation changed the response to the narcotics. We conclude that the three synthetic opioids produce vasodilation by direct action on the peripheral vascular smooth muscle.

Key Words: ANALGESICS—fentanyl sufentanil alfentanil. • ARTERIES, vasodlation—fentanyl, sufentanil, alfentanil.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. J. Ebert, D. J. Ficke, S. R. Arain, M. N. Holtz, and H. Shankar Vasodilation from Sufentanil in Humans Anesth. Analg., December 1, 2005; 101(6): 1677 - 1680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Stekiel, Z. J. Bosnjak, and W. J. Stekiel Effects of General Anesthetics on Regulation of the Peripheral Vasculature Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, September 1, 2003; 7(3): 311 - 331. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. K. Noseir, D. J. Ficke, A. Kundu, S. R. Arain, and T. J. Ebert Sympathetic and Vascular Consequences from Remifentanil in Humans Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2003; 96(6): 1645 - 1650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. L. S Brookes, N. J. Brown, and C. S. Reilly The Dose-Dependent Effects of Fentanyl on Rat Skeletal Muscle Microcirculation In Vivo Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2003; 96(2): 456 - 462. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]