The influence of urapidil,a new antihypertensive agent,on cerebral perfusion pressure in dogs with and without intracranial hypertension

The influence of urapidil, an arylpiperazinederivate, on intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was investigated in dogs with (group II) and without (group I) intracranial hypertension. After i.v. administration of urapidil, intracranial pressure remained unchanged and cerebral perfusion pressure decreased to the same extent as mean arterial pressure (20%). As in neurosurgical patients, autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is often lost; a sudden increase in blood pressure may lead to an increase in cerebral blood flow and to a damage of the blood bain barrier with consequent cerebral edema. Urapidil seems to be suitable for treating hypertensive episodes perioperatively in neurosurgical patients.