• Martin Boyle, Lisa Nicholson, Maureen O'Brien, Gordon M Flynn, David W Collins, William R Walsh, and David Bihari.
• Intensive Care Unit, DBL1S, Prince of Wales Hospital, Barker Street, Randwick 2031, NSW, Australia. martin.boyle@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
• Aust Crit Care. 2010 Nov 1; 23 (4): 208-14.

ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between paracetamol administration and skin blood flow (skBF) and blood pressure (BP) in critically ill patients treated for fever.DesignProspective, observational study.SettingIntensive care units of university teaching hospital.Patients29 adults (17 males and 12 females), aged 58±15 years treated with enteral or intravenous paracetamol for fever. APACHE II score was 17.2±8.3 and admission classifications were 41% medical (n=12), 31% surgical (n=9), and 28% neurological intervention (n=8). Thirty healthy afebrile volunteers were also studied after ingesting 1g paracetamol.Measurements And Main ResultsTemperature, BP and skBF (laser Doppler flowmetry perfusion units) were recorded 15 min prior to administration of paracetamol, at administration (T0) and then for every 15 min for 60 min. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC=skBF/mean arterial pressure) was calculated. Thirty data sets were recorded from 29 patients. Temperature at T0 was 38.7±0.6°C. BP decreased over the study period whilst skBF and CVC increased (repeated measured ANOVA, p<.05). Systolic BP decreased significantly (p<.01) at all post-administration times and was 90±13% of T0 at 60 min. CVC was 128±48% of T0 at 60 min. Systolic BP fell by a clinically significant amount (≥15%) in 17 patients (59%) and hypotension was treated during 33% (n=10) of the observation periods. BP and skBF did not change significantly in afebrile volunteers.ConclusionsParacetamol induced increases in skBF consistent with its antipyretic action and may be associated with significant falls in BP in the critically ill.Copyright © 2010 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. All rights reserved.

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