The effects of sufentanil on the hemodynamic and respiratory response to exercise

The effects of the potent opioid, sufentanil, were studied in 11 athletes. Sufentanil was administered intravenously (up to 0.5 microgram.kg-1 over 10 min) to the subjects while they ran at 14 km.hr-1 on a level treadmill. Prior to, and after, the drug infusion, the treadmill was inclined by 6% for 4 min and CO2 was inhaled for 4 min. Two groups were studied: group 1 (six subjects) breathed room air and group 2 (five subjects) breathed O2 enriched air. During level running the ventilation (liters.min-1) of the group 1 subjects was reduced (65.3 +/- 8.6 to 55.9 +/- 4.9, P = 0.09, mean +/- standard error) and PaCO2 (mm Hg) increased from 37.6 +/- 0.7 to 44.0 +/- 0.5 (P less than 0.05). PaO2 (mm Hg) was substantially reduced from 92.0 +/- 2.0 to 70.0 +/- 2.0 (P less than 0.05). In group 2, where hypoxia did not occur, ventilation was reduced from 62.5 +/- 1.5 to 47.6 +/- 1.0 (P less than 0.05). The ventilatory response to the CO2 was shifted to the right but the slope was unchanged by sufentanil. The 6% grade did not cause any significant change in the PaCO2 in either group 1 (0.1 +/- 0.4 prior and 0.8 +/- 0.5 mm Hg increase after sufentanil) or group 2 (1.0 +/- 1.5 prior and 0.4 +/- 0.9 mm Hg increase after sufentanil). The heart rate response was unaffected by sufentanil but the blood pressure increase in response to the 6% grade was blocked with the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)