[Efficacy of a single dose of urapidil for preventing arterial hypertension during the pre-bypass period in coronary surgery].

To assess the effect of a single prophylactic dose of urapidil for arterial hypertension during the period before start of extracorporeal circulation.Forty-four patients with good ventricular function (ejection fraction < 40%) scheduled for coronary surgery were enrolled for prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 0.5 mg/kg of urapidil (group U, n = 22) or nothing (group N, n = 22) 3 min before skin incision. If hypertension developed sodium nitroprusside was administered, starting with a dose of 0.5 microgram/kg/min. Monitoring of arterial pressure, heart rate and ST segment (DII and V5) was continuous. The study ended with cannulation of the aorta.The demographic features, cardiovascular history, medication and duration of surgery were comparable in the two groups. Six patients in group U (27%) and 19 in group N (86%) developed arterial hypertension (p < 0.001), the duration of which was 2.23 +/- 4.49 min in group U and 9.64 +/- 9.7 min in group N (p < 0.05). Arterial hypotension was observed in 13 group U patients and 7 group N patients (NS). No significant differences in duration of tachycardia, bradycardia or myocardial ischemia were found.The administration of a single dose of urapidil prevents arterial hypertension during the phase before extracorporeal circulation for coronary surgery and reduces the need for nitroprusside. No clinically relevant side effects are evident.