Hemodynamics, plasma histamine, and catecholamine concentrations during an anaphylactoid reaction to morphine

Abstract

Morphine is frequently given intravenously as the main anesthetic drug for cardiac surgery and as the narcotic component in nitrous oxide-narcotic-relaxant anesthesia because of minimal cardiovascular effects. In some patients, however, hypotension occurs usually secondary to histamine release. In this case report, a patient who had an anaphylactoid reaction to morphine in which changes in hemodynamic function were correlated with plasma histamine and catecholamines levels is described.