Tracheal constriction by morphine and by fentanyl in man.

The effects of morphine and fentanyl on tracheal smooth muscle tone were studied in 38 patients during induction of anesthesia. Endotracheal tube cuff pressure was used to measure tracheal tone. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, 70 per cent in oxygen, and pancuronium and ventilation was controlled with a respirator. Morphine, 0.5 mg/kg, produced a biphasic response, initially causing tracheal dilatation and then tracheal constriction. Ten minutes after morphine injection, cuff pressure increased to significantly (21 +/- 8 per cent) above control. Morphine-induced tracheal constriction could be completely blocked by the prior administration of atropine, 0.5 mg. Fentanyl, 0.006 mg/kg, also produced significant tracheal constriction, cuff pressures increasing to 44 +/- 11 per cent above control at 10 min. Fentanyl-induced tracheal constriction could be blocked by pretreatment with droperidol, 0.25 mg/kg. At equianalgesic doses, morphine and fentanyl produced similar tracheal constriction.