[Calcium antagonists in anesthesia. Additive analgesia using nimodipine in heart surgery]

Stress and pain induced by surgical trauma seem to be attenuated when calcium antagonists have been applied. In order to ascertain the effect of nimodipine, a new strong acting calcium channel blocker on plasma levels of various stress hormones twenty patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery where investigated in two groups. Ten patients received high-dose fentanyl anaesthesia (mean: 2,45 mg fentanyl/patient), whereas another ten patients were treated with 0,1 mg fentanyl/patient in addition to nimodipine 1,0 micrograms/kgbw X min (from onset of anaesthesia until start of extracorporeal circulation). Between the two groups were no significant differences with respect to perioperative course and postoperative demand for analgetics. Plasma levels of ACTH, somatotropin, glucose and free glycerol were markedly elevated in all patients (n = 20) intra- and postoperatively, whereas cortisol and prolactin remained unchanged. The present data suggest an additive analgesic effect of nimodipine during surgery. This phenomenon is possibly due to a blocking effect of calcium channel blockers on nociceptive nerves. The present model assumes that calcium is essential in pain perception and that decreased calcium would result in analgesia.