Clevidipine effectively and rapidly controls blood pressure preoperatively in cardiac surgery patients: the results of the randomized, placebo-controlled efficacy study of clevidipine assessing its preoperative antihypertensive effect in cardiac surgery-1

A review of recent advances in anesthetic drugs for patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Inducing and maintaining general anesthesia requires a diverse set of medications. Currently, heart surgery anesthetic management does not adhere to any one standard protocol or set of drugs. To ensure steady circulatory function while providing sufficient sedation, anesthetic medications are carefully selected for cardiovascular operations. Among the opioids used most often in cardiac surgery are fentanyl, sufentanil, and remifentanil. As a cardiac anesthesiologist, your key responsibilities will be to maintain your patient's blood pressure (BP) and oxygen levels, reduce the frequency and intensity of ischemia events, and make it easy for them to get off of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and supplemental oxygen fast. Additionally, new knowledge gaps have been identified as a result of developments in cardiac anesthetics, which must be addressed. The goal of the most recent developments in cardiac anesthesia has been to decrease risks and increase accuracy in patient outcomes during cardiac surgeries. Furthermore, new methods and tools are contributing to the evolution of cardiovascular anesthesia toward a more dynamic, patient-centered approach, with an eye on boosting safety, decreasing complications, and facilitating better recovery for patients. New medications and methods have emerged in the field of anesthetic pharmacology, aiming to improve anesthesia management, particularly for patients who have cardiovascular disease. Optimal cardiovascular stability, fewer side effects, and enhanced surgical recovery are achieved by use of these medications. We have reviewed all the different kinds of cardiac anesthetic techniques and medications in this research. We have also examined the many new anesthetic medicines that have been produced and used for individuals with cardiovascular issues. Next, we covered prospects in the realm of cardiovascular anesthesia and novel cardiac anesthetic drugs.

Effect of clevidipine on intracranial pressure in pediatric neurosurgical patients: a single-center retrospective review

OBJECTIVE

Hemodynamic management in pediatric neurosurgical patients is essential for maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), avoiding hemorrhage, and preventing secondary neurological injury. Antihypertensive infusions approved for pediatrics are not widely studied in the pediatric neurosurgical population and may have adverse effects on intracranial pressure (ICP), contributing to reduced CPP. Clevidipine is an ultra-rapid-acting intravenous antihypertensive agent used for hemodynamic control in adult surgical patients. In pediatric patients, clevidipine is safe and effective in controlling blood pressure in the perioperative period, although studies evaluating its effect on ICP in neurosurgical patients are lacking. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of clevidipine on ICP in pediatric neurosurgical patients.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study involved patients admitted to the pediatric ICU between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020. Patients eligible for inclusion had ICP monitoring devices and received clevidipine infusion for a minimum of 6 hours postoperatively, with at least one ICP measurement pre- and postinfusion. Excluded patients had an elevated preinfusion ICP > 20 mm Hg. The primary outcome was the average change in ICP from preinfusion baseline to hours 6 to < 12, 12 to < 24, and 24 to < 48 of clevidipine infusion. Secondary outcomes included frequency of ICP measurements > 20 mm Hg, CPP measurements < 50 mm Hg, treatment failure defined by a need for concurrent antihypertensive infusion, and frequency of elevated serum triglycerides > 200 mg/dL. Descriptive data were expressed as frequency with percentage or median with interquartile range as appropriate. Analysis of continuous outcome variable data involved Mann-Whitney U-tests with an alpha significance of 0.05.

RESULTS

Data from 47 patients were included in the analysis. The average change in ICP from preinfusion baseline to 48 hours was < 1 mm Hg. Of 3025 total postinfusion ICP measurements in 47 patients, 67 measurements (2.2%) in 13 patients (28%) were > 20 mm Hg. CPP measurements < 50 mm Hg occurred in 16 of 45 patients (36%). Three patients (6.4%) required use of a secondary antihypertensive medication infusion, and 5 of 14 patients (36%) had serum triglycerides > 200 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of clevidipine had minimal effect on ICP. The results of this study suggest that clevidipine is effective at safely maintaining ICP and CPP measurements without detrimental adverse effects in pediatric neurosurgical patients.

Comparison between clevidipine and nicardipine in cerebrovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The term "cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs)" refers to a broad category of diseases that affect the brain's blood vessels and cerebral circulation. Controlling acute hypertension (HTN) by antihypertensive drugs such as clevidipine and nicardipine can be a highly efficient method of lowering the incidence of CVDs.

METHODS

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis study. The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science online databases and a gray literature search were performed to identify potentially eligible studies. The included studies were observational studies that compared adult patients receiving clevidipine or nicardipine for controlling HTN in the setting of CVD.

RESULTS

We reviewed 5 final included articles, including 546 patients. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for time to goal SBP was - 0.04 (95 % CI: [-0.66; 0.58], p-value: 0.86, I²: 79.0 %, pooled MD: -12.90 min), meaning that the clevidipine group had a shorter time to goal systolic blood pressure (SBP) than the nicardipine group. The pooled SMD for total volume infusion was - 0.52 (95 % CI: [-0.93; -0.12], p-value: 0.03, I²: 0.0 %, pooled MD: -1118.81 mL), showing a notably lower total volume infused into patients in the clevidipine group.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that clevidipine reaches the SBP goal faster than nicardipine; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs. The total volume infused to achieve the goal SBP was significantly lower in the clevidipine group. Further prospective studies are needed to compare clevidipine and nicardipine in CVD patients on a large scale.

The Current Role of Clevidipine in the Management of Hypertension

Acute hypertension, which may damage blood vessels, causes irreversible organ damage to the vasculature, central nervous system, kidney, and heart. Clevidipine, the first third-generation calcium channel antagonist approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past 20 years, is an ultra-short-acting calcium channel blocker that inhibits L-type calcium channels with high clearance and low distribution, can be rapidly metabolized into the corresponding inactive acid, and is rapidly hydrolyzed into inactive metabolites by esterase in arterial blood. Clevidipine is the same as nicardipine in that the main physiological effect is vasodilation and the main target is the arterial system, which has a limited effect on capacitor vessels. Unlike nitroglycerin, clevidipine has a limited effect on preload. In contrast to other direct-acting vasodilators, clevidipine has an ultra-short half-life due to metabolism by nonspecific blood and tissue esterases. Clevidipine trials conducted in adult populations have proven that it can rapidly control blood pressure in cardiac surgery situations and that adverse reactions to clevidipine are similar to those with other antihypertensive agents. In recent years, clinical trials have shown that clevidipine has excellent blood pressure-lowering capability in patients with acute neurological injury (hemorrhage, stroke, and subarachnoid and acute intracerebral hemorrhage), those  undergoing coronary artery bypass graft or spinal surgery, and in those with cerebral aneurysm/pheochromocytoma, acute heart failure, acute aortic syndromes, or renal insufficiency with severe hypertension, and it is equivalent to commonly used blood pressure-lowering medicines such as nicardipine or nitroglycerin. However, there is a lack of large-scale clinical trial data on the efficacy and safety of clevidipine in children during the perioperative period.

Clevidipine as a therapeutic and cost-effective alternative to sodium nitroprusside in patients with acute aortic syndromes

Background:

Sodium nitroprusside is the preferred agent for the treatment of high blood pressure during acute aortic syndrome if blood pressure remains elevated after heart rate control with beta-blockers. The increasing cost of sodium nitroprusside in the USA led us to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous clevidipine, a calcium channel blocker with quick onset of action, short half-life and significantly lower costs than sodium nitroprusside, in patients presenting with acute aortic syndrome.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Intensive Care Unit from 2013–2016 with a diagnosis of acute aortic syndrome. Patients who received intravenous sodium nitroprusside were compared with those receiving intravenous clevidipine. The primary outcome was a significant difference in blood pressure at one, three and six hours. Secondary outcomes included time to achieving blood pressure target and in hospital mortality with rates of hypotension and bradycardia as safety endpoints.

Results:

A total of 85 patients with suspected acute aortic pathology received clevidipine and 50 received sodium nitroprusside. Clinical and demographic characteristics were similar in both groups, except for a higher incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the clevidipine group and for a trend towards higher use of labetalol in the clevidipine group. There were no significant differences in blood pressure or heart rate at one, three and six hours after starting either infusion. The rates of hypotension, bradycardia and in-hospital mortality did not differ. Time to achieve blood pressure control were also similar between groups.

Conclusion:

Intravenous clevidipine appears to be a safe and effective alternative to sodium nitroprusside for the management of high blood pressure during acute aortic dissection. In the USA, clevidipine could represent a cost effective therapy providing similar outcomes than sodium nitroprusside.

Pharmacologic Control of Blood Pressure in Infants and Children

Alterations in blood pressure are common during the perioperative period in infants and children. Perioperative hypertension may be the result of renal failure, volume overload, or activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Concerns regarding end-organ effects or postoperative bleeding may mandate regulation of blood pressure. During the perioperative period, various pharmacologic agents have been used for blood pressure control including sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, β-adrenergic antagonists, fenoldopam, and calcium channel antagonists. The following manuscript outlines the commonly used pharmacologic agents for perioperative BP including dosing regimens and adverse effect profiles. Previously published clinical trials are discussed and efficacy in the perioperative period reviewed.

Clevidipine use after first-line treatment failure for perioperative hypertension in neurosurgical patients: A single-center experience

Perioperative hypertension is a common occurrence in the neurosurgical population, where 60% to 90% of the patients require treatment for blood pressure (BP) control. Nicardipine and clevidipine have been commonly used in neurocritical settings. This retrospective, observational study assessed the effectivity of the administration of clevidipine after nicardipine treatment failure in neurosurgical patients.We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of adult patients who were admitted to our neurosurgical department and received clevidipine after nicardipine treatment failure for the control of BP. The primary effectivity outcome was the comparison of the percentage of time spent at targeted SBP goals during nicardipine and clevidipine administration, respectively.A total of 12 adult patients treated with clevidipine after nicardipine treatment failure and were included for data analysis. The median number of events that required dose-titration was 20.5 vs 17 during the administration of nicardipine and clevidipine, respectively (P = .534). The median percentage of time spent at targeted SBP goal was 76.2% during the administration of nicardipine and 93.4% during the administration of clevidipine (P = .123).Our study suggests that clevidipine could be an alternative effective drug with an acceptable benefit/risk ratio in the neurosurgical population that fails to achieve BP control with nicardipine treatment.

Acute Management of Hypertension Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is responsible for approximately 15% of strokes annually in the United States, with nearly 1 in 3 of these patients dying without ever leaving the hospital. Because this disproportionate mortality risk has been stagnant for nearly 3 decades, a main area of research has been focused on the optimal strategies to reduce mortality and improve functional outcomes. The acute hypertensive response following ICH has been shown to facilitate ICH expansion and is a strong predictor of mortality. Rapidly reducing blood pressure was once thought to induce cerebral ischemia, though has been found to be safe in certain patient populations. Clinicians must work quickly to determine whether specific patient populations may benefit from acute lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP) following ICH. This review provides nurses with a summary of the available literature on blood pressure control following ICH. It focuses on intravenous and oral antihypertensive medications available in the United States that may be utilized to acutely lower SBP, as well as medications outside of the antihypertensive class used during the acute setting that may reduce SBP.

Hyperinflation of Nitroprusside

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a generically available and rapid-acting intravenous (IV) vasodilator that has been used clinically for decades. Prior to 2013, the cost of SNP was relatively low, and SNP was an affordable option for the treatment of acute hypertension. However, from 2013 to 2017, average wholesale prices for SNP rose to as high as $900 per vial, earning the drug its status as a "hyperinflation drug." Hyperinflation drugs such as SNP pose a significant challenge for pharmacy departments. A multidisciplinary effort involving stakeholders from many backgrounds, including pharmacists, physicians, and nurses, is key to developing an effective plan to address the problem. A therapeutic interchange, wherein a drug with similar efficacy is substituted for another, is often an appropriate strategy in this scenario. Fortunately, alternative drugs with a solid evidence base exist for the management of acute hypertension. The dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, clevidipine and nicardipine, are IV titratable antihypertensive agents with favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Various studies indicate that clevidipine and nicardipine are effective alternatives to SNP for indications including hypertensive crisis and postoperative hypertension. Some hospitals have reported significant cost savings without adverse outcomes by substituting clevidipine or nicardipine for SNP. This article is intended to serve as a review of the evidence for clevidipine and nicardipine as potential substitutes for SNP and to provide strategies to successfully implement this therapeutic interchange.

Blood pressure lowering effect of calcium channel blockers on perioperative hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Acute perioperative hypertension has been associated with poor outcomes of surgery, and the role of calcium channel blockers (CCB) on controlling perioperative blood pressure (BP) remains controversial. Thus, this meta-analysis was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of CCB in treating perioperative hypertension compared with other antihypertensive agents.

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, and EMABSE databases was systematically searched up to January 2018 for randomized control trials (RCTs) or other control studies comparing the efficacy of CCB versus other antihypertensive medicines for perioperative hypertension modulation. The efficacy and safety of CCB in treating perioperative hypertension were assessed through pooling mean difference (MD) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) or risk ratio (RR) with its 95% CI.

RESULTS

In total, 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. There is no significant difference regarding successful treatment (RR = 2.64, 95% CI: 0.95, 7.29; I = 97%, P <.05), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD = -7.05, 95% CI: -16.27, 2.17; I = 78%, P <.05), overall adverse events (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.16; I = 54%, P = .02), atrial fibrillation (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.60, 1.07; I = 32%, P = .20) and heart rates (MD = -1.05, 95% CI: -7.81, 5.71; I = 84%, P < .05) between patients treated by CCB and other drugs. In the subgroup analysis, statistical significance can be observed regarding successful treatment (RR = 3.46, 95%CI: 1.67, 7.18; I = 84%, P <.05) and postoperative SBP (MD = -9.98, 95%CI: -20.03, 0.08; I = 97%, P <.05) in the RCTs subgroup.

CONCLUSION

CCB was highly effective and well tolerated for treating perioperative hypertension.

Management of hypertensive crises in the elderly

Hypertensive crises are elevations of blood pressure higher than 180/120 mmHg. These can be urgent or emergent, depending on the presence of end organ damage. The clinical presentation of hypertensive crises is quite variable in elderly patients, and clinicians must be suspicious of non-specific symptoms. Managing hypertensive crises in elderly patients needs meticulous knowledge of the pathophysiological changes in them, pharmacological options, pharmacokinetics of the medications used, their side effects, and their interactions with other medications. Clevidipine, nicardipine, labetalol, esmolol, and fenoldopam are among the preferred choices in the elderly due to their efficacy and tolerability. Nitroprusside, hydralazine, and nifedipine should be avoided, unless there are no other options available, due to the high risk of complications and unpredictable responses.

Sodium Nitroprusside as a Hyperinflation Drug and Therapeutic Alternatives

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a generically available and rapid-acting intravenous (IV) vasodilator that has been used clinically for decades. Prior to 2013, the cost of SNP was relatively low, and SNP was an affordable option for the treatment of acute hypertension. However, from 2013 to 2017, average wholesale prices for SNP rose to as high as US$900 per vial, earning the drug its status as a "hyperinflation drug." Hyperinflation drugs pose a significant challenge for pharmacy departments. A multidisciplinary effort involving stakeholders from many backgrounds, including pharmacists, physicians, and nurses, is key to developing an effective cost containment strategy. A therapeutic interchange, wherein a drug with similar efficacy is substituted for another, is often an appropriate strategy to address rising drug costs. Fortunately, alternative drugs with a solid evidence base exist for the management of acute hypertension. The dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, clevidipine and nicardipine, are IV titratable antihypertensive agents with favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Various studies indicate that clevidipine and nicardipine are effective alternatives to SNP for indications including hypertensive crisis and postoperative hypertension. Some hospitals have reported significant cost savings without adverse outcomes by substituting clevidipine or nicardipine for SNP. This article is intended to serve as a review of the evidence for clevidipine and nicardipine as potential substitutes for SNP and to provide strategies to successfully implement this therapeutic interchange.

Clevidipine Versus Nicardipine for Acute Blood Pressure Reduction in a Neuroscience Intensive Care Population

BACKGROUND

Currently, a lack of published literature exists regarding the use of clevidipine in the neuroscience population. This agent may be preferred in some patients because of its short half-life, potentially leading to more narrow blood pressure (BP) control in comparison with other agents. The purpose of this study was to compare the difference in time to achieve target systolic blood pressure (SBP) goals with clevidipine versus nicardipine infusions in patients admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU) at our institution.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed on patients receiving clevidipine or nicardipine infusions while in the NSICU between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2014. Patients were matched based on indication for BP lowering and target SBP. Primary endpoints included time to target SBP and percentage of time within target BP range.

RESULTS

Of the 57 patients included in the study, the median time to target SBP was 30 min in the clevidipine group and 46 min in the nicardipine group (p = 0.13). The percentage of time spent within target BP range was 79 versus 78% (p = 0.64). Clevidipine administration resulted in significantly less volume administered per patient versus nicardipine (530 vs. 1254 mL, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

There were no statistically significant differences in acute BP management between the two agents; however, there was a trend toward shorter time to target and significantly less volume administered in the clevidipine group. Either agent should be considered a viable option in a NSICU population.

Comparison of Clevidipine and Nicardipine for Acute Blood Pressure Reduction in Patients With Stroke

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether clevidipine (CLEV) achieved faster blood pressure control compared to nicardipine (NIC) in patients presenting with either an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

This was a retrospective, observational, cohort study conducted in patients with AIS or ICH admitted to the emergency department of a Comprehensive Stroke Center from November 2011 to June 2013 who received CLEV or NIC continuous infusion for acute blood pressure management.

RESULTS

The study included 210 patients: 70 in the CLEV group and 140 in the NIC group. There was no difference in mean time (standard deviation [SD]) from initiation of the infusion to goal systolic blood pressure (SBP), CLEV: 50 (83) minutes versus NIC: 74 (103) minutes, P = .101. Comparison of the 2 agents within diagnosis showed no difference. Hypotension developed in 5 (7.1%) CLEV patients versus 14 (10%) NIC patients (P = .003). There was no difference in the percentage change at 2 hours; CLEV: -20% (16%) versus NIC: -16% (16%), P = .058. Mean (SD) time to alteplase administration from admission was 56 (22) minutes in the CLEV group versus 59 (25) minutes in the NIC group (P = .684).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in the mean time from initiation of the infusion to the SBP goal between agents or in the secondary outcomes. Due to the lack of differences observed, each agent should be considered based on the patient care needs of the institution.

Perioperative Use of Clevidipine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Clevidipine is an ultrashort-acting drug for rapid reduction of blood pressure by selectively acting on the L-type Ca2+ channels on arteriolar smooth muscle. The drug’s ultrashort action in reducing the blood pressure is due to its rapid hydrolysis by blood and extravascular tissue esterases, which does not depend on hepato-renal metabolism and excretion. An analysis of the perioperative management of blood pressure should be considered to compare with other intravenous antihypertensive agents.

Methods

Analyses of the available evidence in randomized clinical trials following the PRISMA methodology as well as clinical significance according to the GRADE system were conducted. Placebo versus other antihypertensive drugs studies were included. Statistical assessments were done using the X2 and I2 tests.

Results

Clevidipine was more effective in maintaining the blood pressure within pre-specified ranges compared with other antihypertensive drugs (MD, -17.87 CI 95%: -29.02 to -6.72; p = 0.02). The use of Clevidipine versus placebo and rescue antihypertensive intravenous drug showed a clear reduction in rates of treatment failure (RR 0.10; IC 95%; 0.05–0.18; p <0.0001). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse events compared with placebo (RR 1.47; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.43, p = 0.14) and with other antihypertensive drugs (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.35; p = 0.37). In addition, there was no difference in the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) between clevidipine and control groups (RR 1.09, IC del 95%: 0.65 a 1.83; p = 0.73).

Conclusions

Clevidipine is an ultrafast-acting drug that is highly effective for management of perioperative arterial hypertension. It is devoid of adverse effects associated with the use of other IV antihypertensives. Its favorable pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties make clevidipine the drug of choice for the management of acute perioperative hypertension. It is important to emphasize the need for further studies with a larger number of patients to confirm these findings and increase the degree of evidence.

Update in perioperative anesthetic management of pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that originates from either chromaffincells in adrenal medulla or in other paraganglia tissues of the sympathetic nervous system. The perioperative management is quite challenging especially in view of hemodynamic fluctuations. Pheochromocytoma is challenging in view of the impact of excessive and depleted catecholamines in the perioperative period. It requires a through preoperative evaluation and optimization with meticulous intraoperative management. The postoperative period requires vigilance to prevent any untoward complication. In this review we review these concepts based on recent evidence for an optimal outcome.

Clevidipine: a review of its use for managing blood pressure in perioperative and intensive care settings

The ultrashort-acting dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist clevidipine (Cleviprex(®)) has a rapid onset and offset of effect and reduces blood pressure (BP) by decreasing arteriolar resistance without affecting venous capacitance vessels. This article reviews the clinical efficacy and tolerability of intravenous clevidipine when used to manage BP in perioperative and intensive care settings, as well as summarizing its pharmacological properties. Intravenous clevidipine effectively treated preoperative and postoperative hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, according to the results of the randomized, multicentre, double-blind, phase III ESCAPE-1 and ESCAPE-2 trials. The randomized, open-label, multicentre, phase III ECLIPSE trials indicated that in terms of keeping systolic BP within the target range, clevidipine was more effective than nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside perioperatively and had similar efficacy to nicardipine postoperatively in cardiac surgery patients. In small, double-blind trials in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, perioperative clevidipine was noninferior to nitroglycerin, and postoperative clevidipine had similar efficacy to sodium nitroprusside. Noncomparative studies demonstrated that clevidipine provided rapid BP control in patients with acute neurological injuries (including intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage and acute ischaemic stroke), and was not associated with 'overshoot' in the vast majority of patients. Intravenous clevidipine was generally well tolerated and was usually associated with no reflex tachycardia or only very modest increases in heart rate. In conclusion, intravenous clevidipine is a valuable agent for the management of BP in perioperative and intensive care settings.

Screening of stabilizers for LC–MS/MS analysis of clevidipine and its primary metabolite in dog whole blood

Background: Clevidipine is an ester-containing antihypertensive agent that undergoes rapid hydrolysis in blood. A reliable stabilizer cocktail containing citric acid and ascorbic acid was established and the LC–MS/MS method was validated for simultaneous determination of clevidipine and its major metabolite in beagle dog whole blood. Results: The stabilizer could nearly completely inhibit the esterase activity. Both analytes were extracted from whole blood by toluene and detected by MS/MS in positive ESI mode. The linearity range was 0.1–100.0 ng/ml for clevidipine and 1.0–1000.0 ng/ml for the primary metabolite. Conclusion: The stabilizer cocktail was able to effectively suppress the activity of esterase in blood. The method was successfully applied to a PK study of clevidipine in beagle dogs.

A prospective, open-label trial of clevidipine for controlled hypotension during posterior spinal fusion

OBJECTIVES

Controlled hypotension is one means to limit or avoid the need for allogeneic blood products. Clevidipine is a short-acting, intravenous calcium channel antagonist with a half-life of 1 to 3 minutes due to rapid metabolism by non-specific blood and tissue esterases. To date, there are no prospective evaluations with clevidipine in the pediatric population. We prospectively evaluated the dosing requirements, efficacy, and safety of clevidipine for ontrolled hypotension during spinal surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis in the pediatric population.

METHODS

Patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis were eligible for inclusion. The study was an open label, observational study. Maintenance anesthesia included desflurane titrated to maintain a bispectral index at 40 to 60 and a remifentanil infusion. Motor and somatosensory evoked potentials were monitored intraoperatively. When the mean arterial pressure (MAP) was ≥ 65 mmHg despite remifentanil at 0.3 mcg/kg/min, clevidipine was added to maintain the MAP at 55 to 65 mmHg. Clevidipine was initiated at 0.25 to 1 mcg/kg/min and titrated up in increments of 0.25 to 1 mcg/kg/min every 3 to 5 minutes to achieve the desired MAP.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 45 patients. Fifteen patients (33.3%) did not require a clevidipine infusion to maintain the desired MAP range, leaving 30 patients including 13 males and 17 females for analysis. These patients ranged in age from 7.9 to 17.4 years (mean ± SD: 13.7 ± 2.2 years) and in weight from 18.9 to 78.1 kg (mean ± SD: 43.4 ± 14.2 kg). Intraoperatively, the clevidipine infusion was stopped in 6 patients as the surgeon expressed concerns regarding spinal cord perfusion and requested a higher MAP than the study protocol allowed. The data until that point were included for analysis. The target MAP was initially achieved at a mean time of 8.9 minutes. Sixteen of the 30 patients (53.3%) achieved the target MAP within 5 minutes. Heart rate (HR) increased from a baseline of 83 ± 16 to 86 ± 15 beats per minute (mean ± SD) (p=0.04) with the administration of clevidipine. No patient had a HR increase ≥ 20 beats per minute or required the administration of a β-adrenergic antagonist. The duration of the clevidipine administration varied from 8 to 527 minutes (mean ± SD: 160 ± 123 minutes). The maintenance infusion rate of clevidipine varied from 0.25 to 5.0 mcg/kg/min (mean ± SD: 1.4 ± 1.1 mcg/kg/min). Clevidipine was paused a total of 43 times in the 30 cases. In 18 of the 30 patients (60%), the clevidipine infusion was temporarily paused more than once due to a MAP < 55 mmHg. A fluid bolus was administered to only 1 patient to treat the low MAP. No patient required the administration of a vasoactive agent for hypotension. When the clevidipine infusion was discontinued as controlled hypotension was no longer required, the MAP returned to baseline or ≥ 65 mmHg within 10 minutes in 12 of the 30 patients (40%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clevidipine can be used to provide controlled hypotension during posterior spinal fusion. The response of the MAP, both the onset and duration of action, were rapid. Although titration of the infusion with occasional pauses of administration may be needed, excessive hypotension was not noted.

A cost analysis of the impact of a new intravenous antihypertensive in managing perioperative blood pressure during cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of intravenous antihypertensive selection on hospital health resource utilization using data from the Evaluation of CLevidipine In the Perioperative Treatment of Hypertension Assessing Safety Events (ECLIPSE) trials.

METHODS

Analysis of ECLIPSE trial data comparing clevidipine to nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside, and nicardipine and unit costs based on the Premier Hospital database to assess surgery duration, time to extubation, and length of stay (LOS) with the associated cost.

RESULTS

A total of 1414 patients from the ECLIPSE trials and the Premier hospital database were included for analysis. The duration of surgery and postoperative LOS were similar across groups. The time from chest closure to extubation was shorter in patients receiving clevidipine group compared with the pooled comparator group (median 7.0 vs 7.6 hours, P = 0.04). There was shorter intensive care unit (ICU) LOS in the clevidipine group versus the nitroglycerin group (median 27.2 vs 33.0 hours, P = 0.03). A trend toward reduced ICU LOS was also seen in the clevidipine compared with the pooled comparator group (median 32.3 vs 43.5 hours, P = 0.06). The costs for ICU LOS and time to extubation were lower with clevidipine than with the comparators, with median cost savings of $887 and $34, respectively, compared with the pooled comparator group, for a median cost savings of $921 per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Health resource utilization across therapeutic alternatives can be derived from an analysis of standard costs from hospital financial data to matched utilization metrics as part of a randomized controlled trial. In cardiac surgical patients, intravenous antihypertensive selection was associated with a shorter time to extubation in the ICU and a shorter ICU stay compared with pooled comparators, which in turn may decrease total costs.

Clevidipine resistance in a patient taking aripiprazole and methylphenidate

Various factors may be responsible for blood pressure alterations during perioperative care. When these physiologic alterations require treatment, several therapeutic options are available. Clevidipine is an ultrashort-acting, intravenous L-type calcium channel antagonist of the dihydropyridine class. Anecdotal experience has demonstrated its efficacy in various clinical scenarios in the pediatric population. We report apparent resistance to the vasodilatory effects of clevidipine in a 13-year-old girl who presented for anesthetic care during posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis whose chronic medication regimen included aripiprazole and methylphenidate for the treatment of depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We discuss the potential interaction of aripiprazole and methylphenidate with the calcium channel antagonists and cellular mechanisms responsible for the resistance to the vasodilatory effects of clevidipine.

[The role of clevidipine in hypertension management: clinical results]

The prevalence of hypertension in general population is from 30% to 45%(.) Anesthesiologists frequently deal with the challenge of maintaining adequate control of perioperative blood pressure. On sudden elevations, a precise control is required to prevent end-organ damage. Recently, clevidipine, an ultra-short acting calcium antagonist has been approved by the FDA (www.accessdata.fda.gov), as a strategy for the intravenous treatment of hypertension; and by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (www.aemps.gob.es) for the rapid reduction of arterial blood pressure in the perioperative setting. This medication has shown to have a rapid onset, easy titratability, and to exert a precise control of blood pressure. In addition, clevidipine has shown to be highly effective as monotherapy, and to have an excellent transition to oral antihypertensive therapy. For this article, an online search of the Medline literature was conducted up to February 2014 and "clevidipine" and "hypertension" used as keywords in order to analyze pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of clevidipine. There are also clinical studies that provide evidence of the rapid and effective control that clevidipine has on blood pressure, especially in acute perioperative and emergency settings.

Clevidipine for perioperative blood pressure control in infants and children

Various pharmacologic agents have been used for perioperative BP control in pediatric patients, including sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, β-adrenergic antagonists, fenoldopam, and calcium channel antagonists. Of the calcium antagonists, the majority of the clinical experience remains with the dihydropyridine nicardipine. Clevidipine is a short-acting, intravenous calcium channel antagonist of the dihydropyridine class. It undergoes rapid metabolism by non-specific blood and tissue esterases with a half-life of less than 1 minute. As a dihydropyridine, its cellular and end-organ effects parallel those of nicardipine. The clevidipine trials in the adult population have demonstrated efficacy in rapidly controlling BP in various clinical scenarios with a favorable adverse effect profile similar to nicardipine. Data from large clinical trials regarding the safety and efficacy of clevidipine in children is lacking. This manuscript aims to review the commonly used pharmacologic agents for perioperative BP control in children, discuss the role of calcium channel antagonists such as nicardipine, and outline the preliminary data regarding clevidipine in the pediatric population.

Clevidipine controls intraoperative blood pressure in an adolescent with renal failure

In pediatric-aged patients, various factors may result in perioperative hypertension including renal failure or insufficiency, volume overload, or other factors that activate the sympathetic nervous system including pain and agitation. Perioperative blood pressure control may be even more difficult to achieve and maintain in patients with pre-existing hypertension. We present a 16-year-old adolescent with renal failure and hypertension who presented for anesthetic care during placement of a peritoneal dialysis catheter. Perioperative blood pressure control was achieved with the administration of clevidipine, an ultra-short acting calcium channel antagonist of the dihydropyridine class. Its role in the perioperative control of blood pressure is discussed.

Nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside: potential contributors to postoperative bleeding?

Postoperative bleeding is common in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Most cases of severe postoperative bleeding not due to incomplete surgical hemostasis are related to acquired transient platelet dysfunction mediated by platelet activation during contact with the synthetic surfaces of the cardiopulmonary bypass equipment. Antihypertensive agents nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside have been shown to have platelet inhibitory properties, yet the clinical consequence in terms of postoperative bleeding has been little studied. Knowing that cardiopulmonary bypass causes platelet dysfunction, it is prudent for physicians to be aware of the additional platelet inhibition caused by these commonly used antihypertensive agents.

Pharmacological management of hypertensive emergencies and urgencies: focus on newer agents

INTRODUCTION

Hypertensive crises are categorized as hypertensive emergencies and urgencies depending on the presence of acute target-organ damage; the former are potentially life-threatening medical conditions, requiring urgent treatment under close monitoring. Although several short-acting intravenous antihypertensive agents are approved for this purpose, until recently little evidence from proper trials on the relative merits of different therapies was available.

AREAS COVERED

This article discusses in brief the pathophysiology, epidemiology and diagnostic approach of hypertensive crises and provides an extensive overview of established and emerging pharmacological agents for the treatment of patients with hypertensive emergencies and urgencies.

EXPERT OPINION

Agents such as sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin and hydralazine have been used for many years as first-line options for patients with hypertensive emergencies, although their potential adverse effects and difficulties in use were well known. With time, equally potent and less toxic alternatives, including nicardipine, fenoldopam, labetalol and esmolol are increasingly used worldwide. Recently, clevidipine, a third-generation dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker with unique pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties was added to our therapeutic armamentarium and was shown in clinical trials to reduce mortality when compared with nitroprusside. In view of such evidence, a change in pharmacological treatment practices for hypertensive crises toward newer and safer agents is warranted.

Intracerebral hemorrhage: clinical overview and pathophysiologic concepts

Intracerebral hemorrhage is by far the most destructive form of stroke. Apart from the management in a specialized stroke or neurological intensive care unit (NICU), no specific therapies have been shown to consistently improve outcomes after ICH. Current guidelines endorse early aggressive optimization of physiologic derangements with ventilatory support when indicated, blood pressure control, reversal of any preexisting coagulopathy, intracranial pressure monitoring for certain cases, osmotherapy, temperature modulation, seizure prophylaxis, treatment of hyerglycemia, and nutritional support in the stroke unit or NICU. Ventriculostomy is the cornerstone of therapy for control of intracranial pressure patients with intraventricular hemorrhage. Surgical hematoma evacuation does not improve outcome for more patients, but is a reasonable option for patients with early worsening due to mass effect due to large cerebellar or lobar hemorrhages. Promising experimental treatments currently include ultra-early hemostatic therapy, intraventricular clot lysis with thrombolytics, pioglitazone, temperature modulation, and deferoxamine to reduce iron-mediated perihematomal inflammation and tissue injury.

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of clevidipine after prolonged continuous infusion in subjects with mild to moderate essential hypertension

Purpose

Clevidipine is a rapidly-acting intravenous dihydropyridine antihypertensive acting via calcium channel blockade. This was a randomized, single-blind, parallel-design study of a 72-h continuous clevidipine infusion.

Method

Doses of 2, 4, 8, or 16.0 mg/h or placebo were evaluated in 61 subjects with mild to moderate essential hypertension. IV clevidipine or placebo was initiated at 2.0 mg/h and force-titrated in doubling increments every 3 min to target dose, then maintained for 72 h. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured during infusion, and for 4, 6 and 8 h after termination of infusion, although oral therapy could be restarted at 4 h. Clevidipine blood levels were obtained during infusion and for 1 hour after termination.

Results

Rapid onset of drug effect occurred at all clevidipine dose levels, with consistent pharmacokinetics and rapid offset after 72-h infusion. No evidence of tolerance to the clevidipine drug effect was observed at any dose level over the 72-h infusion. No evidence of rebound hypertension was found for either 4 or 6 h after termination of the clevidipine infusion. At 8 h following cessation of clevidipine, blood pressure was not significantly higher than at baseline. Placebo-treated subjects had blood pressures lower than baseline at 8 h following infusion termination; hence, placebo-adjusted blood pressures tended to be slightly higher than baseline.

Conclusion

This study supports the use of up to 72 h of IV clevidipine therapy for the management of blood pressure, with consistent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics and context insensitive half-life across the dose ranges evaluated.

Hypertensive emergencies: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Systemic hypertension (HTN) is a common medical condition affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. One to two percent of patients with HTN develop acute elevations of blood pressure (hypertensive crises) that require medical treatment. However, only patients with true hypertensive emergencies require the immediate and controlled reduction of blood pressure with an intravenous antihypertensive agent.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although the mortality from hypertensive emergencies has decreased, the prevalence and demographics of this disorder have not changed over the last 4 decades. Clinical experience and reported data suggest that patients with hypertensive urgencies are frequently inappropriately treated with intravenous antihypertensive agents, whereas patients with true hypertensive emergencies are overtreated with significant complications.

SUMMARY

Despite published guidelines, most patients with hypertensive crises are poorly managed with potentially severe outcomes.

Management of the Patient for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in the Perioperative Period

Aortic stenosis is a prevalent valvular disease among aging patients, and surgical correction is the most definitive treatment. Yet many elderly patients are deemed to be “inoperable” or at excessive risk to undergo open surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR). Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), either through a transfemoral or transapical approach, has become a potential option for these high-risk patients. Although TAVI technology will continue to be developed and perfected, most studies at this time reveal that symptoms are improved and that 1-year morbidity and mortality are similar to those for open surgical AVR. Anesthetic management for patients undergoing TAVI involves maintaining hemodynamic stability during periods of rapidly changing conditions and providing echocardiographic guidance and assessment. Postoperative care includes a variety of challenges such as managing pain control, monitoring for potential complications, and providing hemodynamic management.

Clevidipine : a state-of-the-art antihypertensive drug under the scope

INTRODUCTION

Clevidipine butyrate is the first intravenous antihypertensive drug to be approved by the FDA over the last decade. This medication is approved for use in the USA, Australia and New Zealand, but is still pending for approval in Europe. It is a new agent that might change the current management for severe acute hypertension in the critical care, emergency and perioperative areas.

AREAS COVERED

This systematic review summarizes the pharmacological and clinical characteristics of this third-generation dihydropyridine intravenous calcium channel blocker, and was done using the literature available from the first publication in 1999 up until now, including the pivotal trials that led to its approval.

EXPERT OPINION

This agent is arterially selective, has an ultrashort half-life, with no CYP-mediated interactions with other medications and is easily titratable. These characteristics place it in a unique category compared with other commonly used antihypertensives. Clevidipine butyrate reaches target systolic blood pressure in more than 90% of patients, within 30 min. It has a low incidence of adverse reactions and is generally well tolerated. The main goal of this review is to provide healthcare providers with a comprehensive appraisal of this promising medication.

Perioperative blood pressure management with clevidipine during coiling of cerebral artery aneurysms

The tight control of blood pressure (BP) is mandatory during cerebral aneurysm coiling to minimize abrupt changes in the transmural pressure across the aneurysm and thereby decrease the risk of rupture. Critical times during these procedures when significant BP changes may occur include anesthetic induction, endotracheal intubation, and emergence. Clevidipine is a recently introduced, rapidly acting dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist. Its rapid metabolism by tissue and plasma esterases results in an effective half-life of 1 to 3 minutes. We present our preliminary experience with the use of clevidipine to control BP during the anesthetic care of three patients undergoing coiling of cerebral aneurysms in the interventional radiology suite.

Recent advances in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies

Clinical practice varies regarding the choice of agent to treat hypertensive emergencies. With the development of national guidelines, a standardized pharmacotherapeutic approach would be recommended on the basis of evidence in the published literature. Such an approach might decrease the variability among practitioners and institutions in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies. Each available agent to treat hypertensive emergencies possesses both positive and negative attributes. With several intravenous, short-acting, agents available, clinicians must make educated decisions about the best medication for their patients, and these decisions should be based on organ function as well as the patient's clinical presentation. The primary goal in hypertensive emergencies is to rapidly and safely reduce blood pressure to prevent further end-organ damage. Critical care nurses have an important role in the safe and effective management of these patients. The application of knowledge of treatment goals, hemodynamic monitoring, and pharmacological therapy for hypertensive emergencies can lead to the safe recovery of these critically ill patients.