Objective: To observe and characterize the blood pressure (BP)-lowering and adverse hemodynamic and/or central nervous system effects of intravenous bolus doses of labetalol in hemorrhagic stroke patients.
Design: Observational, prospective, pilot survey conducted over an eight-week period.
Setting: Surgical intensive care unit.
Participants: Patients admitted with an intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Main outcome parameters: Absolute decline in systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), time to peak reduction in SBP and DBP, and adverse hemodynamic and mental status changes.
Results: Labetalol at doses between 5 and 25 mg lowered SBP by 6-19 percent (baseline 152-184 mm Hg) and DBP by 3-26 percent (baseline 50-99 mm Hg). Adverse hemodynamic or mental status changes were not detected following labetalol administration.
Conclusions: Small (< or = 25 mg) intravenous bolus doses of labetalol produce mild decreases in BP in hemorrhagic stroke patients.