Biomaterial Database

Opioid-induced rigidity after intravenous fentanyl. 1997

C M Viscomi, and P L Bailey

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA.

BACKGROUND Large doses of intravenous opioids may cause severe rigidity and prevent spontaneous or controlled ventilation. The mechanism of this effect appears to be neuraxis dopamine antagonism. Rigidity after analgesic doses of fentanyl has not been reported previously. METHODS A pregnant woman receiving haloperidol for multiple psychiatric conditions presented for evaluation of vaginal bleeding. Intravenous fentanyl was administered to facilitate vaginal examination. Severe rigidity of the extremities and truncal region occurred, which prevented spontaneous or assisted ventilation. CONCLUSIONS Opioid administration may result in rigidity and respiratory embarrassment. Decreased analgesic requirements in pregnancy and concomitant butyrophenone administration may predispose to opioid-induced rigidity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009127	Muscle Rigidity	Continuous involuntary sustained muscle contraction which is often a manifestation of BASAL GANGLIA DISEASES. When an affected muscle is passively stretched, the degree of resistance remains constant regardless of the rate at which the muscle is stretched. This feature helps to distinguish rigidity from MUSCLE SPASTICITY. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p73)	Cogwheel Rigidity,Extrapyramidal Rigidity,Gegenhalten,Nuchal Rigidity,Rigidity, Muscular,Catatonic Rigidity,Extensor Rigidity,Cogwheel Rigidities,Gegenhaltens,Muscular Rigidity,Rigidities, Cogwheel,Rigidity, Catatonic,Rigidity, Cogwheel,Rigidity, Extensor,Rigidity, Extrapyramidal,Rigidity, Muscle,Rigidity, Nuchal
D010808	Physical Examination	Systematic and thorough inspection of the patient for physical signs of disease or abnormality.	Physical Exam,Examination, Physical,Physical Examinations and Diagnoses,Exam, Physical,Examinations, Physical,Exams, Physical,Physical Examinations,Physical Exams
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D004357	Drug Synergism	The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug.	Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D005260	Female		Females
D005283	Fentanyl	A potent narcotic analgesic, abuse of which leads to habituation or addiction. It is primarily a mu-opioid agonist. Fentanyl is also used as an adjunct to general anesthetics, and as an anesthetic for induction and maintenance. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1078)	Phentanyl,Duragesic,Durogesic,Fentanest,Fentanyl Citrate,Fentora,R-4263,Sublimaze,Transmucosal Oral Fentanyl Citrate,R 4263,R4263
D005836	Genitalia, Female	The female reproductive organs. The external organs include the VULVA; BARTHOLIN'S GLANDS; and CLITORIS. The internal organs include the VAGINA; UTERUS; OVARY; and FALLOPIAN TUBES.	Accessory Sex Organs, Female,Sex Organs, Accessory, Female,Genital Organs, Female,Genitals, Female,Reproductive System, Female,Female Genital,Female Genital Organ,Female Genital Organs,Female Genitalia,Female Genitals,Female Reproductive System,Female Reproductive Systems,Genital Organ, Female,Genital, Female,Reproductive Systems, Female
D006220	Haloperidol	A phenyl-piperidinyl-butyrophenone that is used primarily to treat SCHIZOPHRENIA and other PSYCHOSES. It is also used in schizoaffective disorder, DELUSIONAL DISORDERS, ballism, and TOURETTE SYNDROME (a drug of choice) and occasionally as adjunctive therapy in INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY and the chorea of HUNTINGTON DISEASE. It is a potent antiemetic and is used in the treatment of intractable HICCUPS. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p279)	Haldol
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man