Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
The cardiovascular effects of naloxone administration after fentanyl anesthesia in hypercapnic patients
Kazuhiro Kishikawa1, Akiyoshi Namiki1, Hiroshi Iwasaki1
1Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical College and Hospital, Minami 1, Nishi 16, Chuou-ku, 060, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Abstract:
Hemodynamic changes and plasma catecholamine levels after naloxone administration were studied in seventeen postoperative patients who received nitrous oxide, oxygen, and fentanyl anesthesia combined with epidural block. Group I consisted of ten postoperative hypercapnic (PaCO2 = 55.2 +/- 2.4 torr) and group II seven postoperative normocapnic patients (PaCO2 = 38.4 +/- 2.1 torr), respectively. In group I, naloxone reversal resulted in significant increases in heart rate (13.5%), mean arterial pressure (46.6%), systemic vascular resistance (32.1%), and rate pressure product (68.8%), whereas mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly decreased. No significant hemodynamic changes after naloxone administration were observed in group II. There were no significant differences in arterial norepinephrine and epinephrine levels either before or after naloxone administration in the both groups. This study indicates that the postoperative hypercapnia elicits the cardiovascular stimulation after fentanyl reversal by naloxone.
Related Concept Videos
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview
General Anesthesia: Overview
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management