Summary
In the choice of anaesthetics and techniques the danger of a possible progressive increase of intracranial pressure (ICP) should be considered. Therefore the influence of intravenous anaesthetic agents on mean arterial pressure, ICP, and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in patients with primarily increased ICP was observed under standard conditions for 20–40 minutes. Etomidate, thiopentone, propanidid, and ketamine showed remarkable effects on ICP, even in patients with disturbed cerebro-vascular reactivity. Etomidate and thiopentone cause a fall of ICP by 26%. Because of its stabilizing effects on circulation etomidate does not induce a reduction of CPP, whereas thiopentone will do so because of its depressing effect on blood pressure. Propanidid appears to be a less suitable agent when there is raised ICP, because it induces fluctuations of ICP and blood pressure up to the third minute after injection. According to our results, monoanaesthesia with ketamine cannot be recommended when there is increased ICP because it causes a prolonged increase in ICP, and reduction of blood pressure and CPP.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brückner, J. B., Gethmann, J. W., Patschke, D., Tarnow, J., Wagner, A., Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Etomidate auf den Kreislauf des Menschen. AnÄsthesist23 (1974), 322.
Cunitz, G., Danhauser, J., Grug, P., Die Wirkung von Enflurane im Vergleich zu Halothan auf den intrakraniellen Druck. AnÄsthesist25 (1976), 323.
Dawson, B., Michenfelder, J. D., Theye, R. A., Effects of ketamine on canine cerebral blood flow and metabolism: Modification by prior administration of thiopental. Anesth. Analg. Curr. Res.50 (1971), 443.
Doenicke, A., Gabanyi, D., Lance, H., Schürk-Bulich, M., Kreislaufverhalten und Myocardfunktion nach drei kurzwirkenden i.v. Hypnotika, Etomidate, Propanidid, Methohexital. AnÄsthesist23 (1974), 108.
McDowall, D. G., Cerebral haemodynamics and metabolism during general anaesthesia. Acta anaesth. scand., Suppl.25 (1966), 307.
Gardner, A. E., Olson, B. E., Lichtinger, M., Cerebrospinal fluid pressure during dissociative anaesthesia with ketamine. Anesthesiology35 (1971), 226.
Gieles, A. C. M., Somers, G. H. I., Miniaturdruckwandler mit Siliziummembrane. Philips techn. Rdsch.33 (1973), 15.
Gordon, E., The action of drugs on intracranial contents. In: Progress in Anesthesiology, p. 60 (Boulton, T. B., Bryce-Smith, R., Sykes, M. K.,et al., eds.). Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica. 1970.
Herrschaft, H., Schmidt, H., Das Verhalten der globalen und regionalen Hirndurchblutung unter dem Einflu\ von Propanidid, Ketamine und Thiopental-Natrium. AnÄsthesist22 (1973), 486.
Herrschaft, H., Schmidt, H., Gleim, F., Albus, G., The response of human cerebral blood flow to anesthesia with thiopentone, methohexitone, propanidid, ketamine and etomidate. In: Advances of Neurosurgery, Vol. 3, Brain hypoxia, Pain, p. 120 (Penzholz, H., Brock, M., Hamer, J., Klinger, N., Spoerri, O., eds.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer. 1975.
Kettler, D., Sonntag, H., Donath, U., Regensburger, D., Schenk, H. D., HÄmodynamik, Myocardmechanik, Sauerstoffbedarf und Sauerstoffversorgung des menschlichen Herzens unter Narkoseeinleitung mit Etomidate. In: Anaesthesiologie und Wiederbelebung93, p. 160. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer. 1975.
Langfitt, T. W., Increased intracranial pressure. Clin. Neurosurg.16 (1968), 436.
Lassen, N. A., Alexander, S. C., Effects of anesthesia on cerebral blood flow. Ann. Refr. Course Lect.26 (1975), 227.
Michenfelder, J. D., Theye, R. A., Cerebral protection by thiopental during hypoxia. Anesthesiology39 (1973), 510.
Phirman, J. R., Shapiro, H. M., Modification of nitrous oxide induced intracranial hypertension by prior induction of anesthesia. Anesthesiology46 (1977), 150.
Renou, A. M., Vernhiet, J., Maarez, P., Constant, P., Billerey, J., Khadaroo, M. Y., Caillé, J. M., Cerebral blood flow and metabolism during etomidate anaesthesia in man. Brit. J. Anaesth.50 (1978), 1047.
Shapiro, H. M., Intracranial hypertension: Therapeutic and anesthetic con.
Smith, A. L., Wollman, H., Effects of anesthetics drugs and techniques. Anesthesiology36 (1972), 378.
Stoeckel, H., Zerebrale Hypoxie und AnÄsthesie. Prakt. AnÄsth.10 (1975), 317.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schulte am Esch, J., Pfeifer, G., Thiemig, I. et al. The influence of intravenous anaesthetic agents on primarily increased intracranial pressure. Acta neurochir 45, 15–25 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01774380
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01774380