Effect of pretreatment with propranolol on intra-ocular pressure changes during induction of anaesthesia.
It is well documented that intra-ocular pressure (IOP) increases following the administration of suxamethonium and also after laryngoscopy and intubation. It is possible that there may be a final common pathway mediated by beta adrenergic transmission which leads to this pressure rise. If so, this mechanism should be inhibited by beta adrenoceptor blockade. Pretreatment with propranolol prevented a significant rise in IOP during a thiopentone, suxamethonium, intubation induction sequence. The change in IOP was even more pronounced during a thiopentone, alcuronium, intubation induction sequence as the base-line IOP was not regained, but there was significant cardiovascular depression. In both these methods the IOP did not remain stable; there was an initial reduction followed by a rise in pressure. Whether these changes in IOP are clinically important remains an open question.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000443:Alcuronium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
D011433:Propranolol; D013390:Succinylcholine; D013874:Thiopental; D000443:Alcuronium