Comparative Evaluation of Bolus Administration of Dexmedetomidine and Fentanyl for Stress Attenuation During Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation.
BACKGROUND
Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation can cause hypertension and tachycardia which can result in myocardial ischemia or stroke in vulnerable people. The objective of our study was to compare the efficacy of bolus dose of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl in attenuating haemodynamic stress responses following laryngoscopy and intubation.


METHODS
Sixty patients who were fixed to undergo elective surgeries under general anaesthesia were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group 1 received 1 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine over 10 minutes and group 2 received fentanyl 2mcg/kg before induction. Anaesthesia was standardized in both the groups and vital parameters were recorded for up to 10 minutes after intubation.


RESULTS
Dexmedetomidine in a dose of 1mcg/kg prevented an increase in heart rate following laryngoscopy when compared to fentanyl group. This effect lasted for 10 minutes after intubation is performed. Though dexmedetomidine prevented an increase in blood pressure, this effect was statistically significant only for 2 minutes after intubation when compared to fentanyl group.


CONCLUSIONS
Attenuation of rise in heart rate and blood pressure following laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation was better with 1mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine when compared to fentanyl.
Postgraduate Student, Department of Anaesthesiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre , Potheri, India .
Sellamuthu
S
Gunalan
Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre , Potheri, India .
Rajagopalan
R
Venkatraman
Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Anaesthesiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre , Potheri, India .
Govindarajan
G
Sivarajan
Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre , Potheri, India .
Paneerselvam
P
Sunder
Dexmedetomidine; Intubation reflexes; Opioids; Stress response