[Hemodynamic effects of nalbuphine in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency]

Examination of haemodynamic changes, after 20 mg nalbuphine had been administered IV to 11 ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure, showed that on average pulmonary arterial mean pressure increased by 8% of the initial value. This increase was reversed after the test dosage was doubled from 20 mg to 40 mg nalbuphine. Regression analysis of the correlation between changes in pulmonary arterial mean pressure and patient age resulted in an increase in mean pressure by 0.1 mmHg per year after 20 mg nalbuphine. These findings suggest that nalbuphine must be carefully monitored in elderly and pulmonary risk patients.