[Clinical study on total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and ketamine--4. Control of intraoperative hypertension with nicardipine].

Intraoperative hypertension over 160 mmHg systolic observed during total intravenous anesthesia with droperidol, fentanyl and ketamine was treated with intravenous nicardipine in 50 surgical patients. Nicardipine was given intravenously in a bolus of either 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg to treat the intraoperative hypertension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased soon after administration of nicardipine without simultaneous sinus tachycardia. Thus rate pressure product was also reduced significantly. Neither preoperative hypertension, nor systolic blood pressure just before the administration of nicardipine had any significant relationship with hypotensive effect of intravenous nicardipine. We did not experience any adverse reaction with the drug. We conclude that intravenous nicardipine in a dose of 0.5-1.0mg can be given repeatedly to overcome hypertension observed during this method of anesthesia.