Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic responses to fentanyl in infants

Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic responses to fentanyl were studied in 12 infants after repair of congenital heart defects. During controlled ventilation, hemodynamic responses to 25 micrograms/kg of fentanyl were measured. No significant changes were found in heart rate, cardiac index, mean pulmonary artery pressure, or pulmonary vascular resistance index 5 min after the fentanyl had been given. There were small but statistically significant decreases in mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index after fentanyl. We conclude that under the conditions of this study, pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in infants are minimally altered by 25 micrograms/kg of fentanyl.