Der Anaesthesist
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Urapidil (Ebrantil) is a new antihypertensive agent exerting central and peripheral action which is recognized for the treatment of both chronic and acute hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the extent of the antihypertensive effect of urapidil in various forms of general or regional anaesthesia. To this end, a retrospective analysis was first carried out on the typical reactions of the circulatory system in 200 patients during either neuroleptanalgesia with diazepam and droperidol, or halothane, enflurane or intrathecal local anaesthesia. ⋯ Temporary blood pressure reduction to hypotensive values was observed in 2 of the 50 patients only. From the results it is concluded that urapidil is an effective and relatively safe drug for the treatment of elevated blood pressure during routine surgery. Even if it has been administered on the basis of wrong indication (e.g. hypertensive phases as a result of insufficient anaesthesia), it rarely will cause blood pressure to fall to undesired low levels after anaesthesia has been normalized.