Low-dose sufentanil does not affect tolerance to LBNP-induced central hypovolemia or blood pressure responses during a cold pressor test.

Hemorrhage is a leading cause of death in the prehospital setting. Since trauma-induced pain often accompanies a hemorrhagic insult, the administered pain medication must not interfere with critical autonomic regulation of arterial blood pressure and vital organ perfusion. The purpose of this study was to test two unrelated hypotheses: ) sublingual sufentanil (Dsuvia) impairs tolerance to progressive central hypovolemia and ) sublingual sufentanil attenuates pain sensation and the accompanying cardiovascular responses to a noxious stimulus.