Effects of pindolol on the cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation.
Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation often cause hypertension, tachycardia and arrhythmias, which may be exaggerated during rapid-sequence induction of anaesthesia. We have studied the efficacy of pindolol in attenuating the cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients receiving pindolol 2 micrograms kg-1 or 4 micrograms kg-1 3 min before induction of anaesthesia in a double-blind design. The data were compared with those in a control group receiving saline. Each group consisted of 10 patients undergoing elective surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1 i.v. and tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.2 mg kg-1. Patients receiving saline showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate associated with tracheal intubation. These increases after tracheal intubation were reduced in pindolol 4 micrograms kg-1 treated patients compared with those in the control group (P less than 0.05). Pindolol 2 micrograms kg-1 attenuated tachycardia in response to intubation but did not affect hypertension. These data suggest that a bolus injection of pindolol 4 micrograms kg-1 is a simple, practical and effective method for attenuating cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
K
K
Mikawa
N
N
Maekawa
R
R
Goto
H
H
Kaetsu
M
M
Hasegawa
H
H
Yaku
H
H
Obara
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010869:Pindolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010869:Pindolol