Abstract
Introduction
To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of nicardipine infusion in controlling the elevated blood pressure after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
Methods
Nicardipine infusion was initiated if the individual pre-specified systolic blood pressure (SBP) level goal, mandated by the admitting neurosurgeon, was not met. Systolic and diastolic BPs were measured on admission, hourly during the infusion and 12 h before and after the infusion.
Results
Twenty-eight patients with SAH required 50 nicardipine infusions in order to achieve a mean SBP goal of 152 mmHg. The 3,112 extracted BP measurements showed that mean infusion SBP was significantly lower than admission and pre-infusion SBP (mean 146.5 vs. 177.1 and 155.6 mmHg, P < 0.001, respectively) and significantly higher than post-infusion SBP (146.5 vs. 142.6 mmHg, P = 0.002). Five infusions were stopped prematurely, because of hypotension (n = 3), emergent surgery (n = 1), and failure to reach the SBP goal (n = 1). Rebleeding was not observed in any patient. Nicardipine achieved SBP control in 59.9% of hourly infusion measurements, with a trend for higher proportion of success with higher SBP goals.
Conclusion
In this study, nicardipine infusion was a safe and moderately effective treatment for BP control in patients with SAH. Although SBP during nicardipine infusion was higher than the pre-specified goal in a significant percentage of hourly observations, this may be due to the drug administration protocol and other factors such as analgesia and sedation.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Lisa Pietrantoni and Frances DeVos for their assistance in collecting the data. Dr. Varelas and Dr. Abdelhak have received research grants from the Medicines Company. Dr. Varelas also owns stocks of the Medicines Company and has received Speaker honoraria by the same company. Funding: Departmental supports.
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Varelas, P.N., Abdelhak, T., Wellwood, J. et al. Nicardipine Infusion for Blood Pressure Control in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 13, 190–198 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-010-9393-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-010-9393-7