Drotaverinum – a new modality of prevention and treatment in cerebral vasospasm after subarachoidian hemorrhage?

Abstract

Aim: This study want to demonstrate the efficaciousness of drotaverinum as a replacer of papaverine in the prevention and treatment of vasospasm. Material and method: In this study were used 20 albino Wistar male rats. Rats were divided in two groups and vasospasm was induced to the both femoral artery and after that irrigation of the femoral arteries with drotaverinum was performed to demonstrate the vasodilatation that can appear (group A). In the group B after the obtaining of vasospasm irrigation of the femoral arteries with saline solution was performed and this group was used as witness. The length of the vessels was measured when was achieved the vasospasm and also before and after the administration of the solutions. Pictures were taken at every step of dissection and solutions administration to can measure the length of arteries before and after the administration of drotaverinum and the saline solution. Results: In all rats was obtained vasospasm at the femoral artery after clipping the artery and after we irrigate with adrenaline. In the group with drotaverinum we obtained the vasodilatation and in the witness group the caliber of the vessels remain the same. The statistical analysis of the data demonstrate a significant differences between the group were was used drotaverinum and the witness group were was used the saline solution (p<0,001). Conclusions: Drotaverinum has a good vasodilatative effect on arteries and he can prevent the apparition of vasospasm and it can even treat vasospasm if occur by producing local vasodilatation and a good circulation in the area where is administrated. This study showed quantitatively that drotaverinum can treat the experimental peripheral vasospasm in rats.