Cardiovascular and plasma catecholamine responses at tracheal extubation

Abstract

The haemodynamic responses to tracheal extub-ation at the end of surgery were compared with those occurring at tracheal intubation in 12 patients undergoing major elective surgery. Arterial can-nulation was performed and heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) were measured before induction of anaesthesia, before tracheal intubation, at the end of surgery and 1. 3 and 5 min after tracheal extubation. Laryngoscopy was avoided at the end of surgery. At all but the first of these stages, venous blood was obtained for measurement of plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Rate-pressure product (RPP) was derived from SAP x HR. After tracheal intubation there were significant (P < 0.05) increases in HR, DAP, RPP and in plasma concentrations of both adrenaline and noradrenaline. After extubation, only HR and adrenaline concentration at 5 min after extubation increased significantly compared with measurements at the end of surgery © 1992 British Journal of Anaesthesia.