Abstract :
Background: Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is often associated with hypertension and tachycardia because of
sympatho-adrenal stimulation. In patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, this sudden rise in heart rate
and blood pressure can produce myocardial ischemia, pulmonary oedema and cerebral haemorrhage. Many drugs have
been tried to blunt this hemodynamic response but none is ideal. Our aim was to study the efficacy of 3µg/kg clonidine
intravenously, given 15 minutes before laryngoscopy and intubation in obtunding the hemodynamic response. Methods:
One hundred patients were assigned randomly into two groups. Group I (n=50) received 10 ml of normal saline and group
II (n=50) received injection Clonidine 3µg/kg diluted to 10 ml normal saline intravenously over 120 seconds, 15 minutes
prior to laryngoscopy and intubation. After premedication anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone till loss of eye lash
reflex and dose of thiopentone required was recorded. HR, SBP, DBP and MAP were recorded at various time intervals
before and after intubation. Results: In group I, following laryngoscopy and intubation, the rise in heart rate (HR), systolic
blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were found to be more compared
to group II which was statistically significant (p
Keyword :
Laryngoscopy, Intubation, Hemodynamic, Clonidine.