Hypertension in a six-year-old child before, during and after anaesthesia

Abstract

Summary: A six-year-old healthy normotensive child with fractures of the forearm had two unsuccessful attempts at reduction following sedation with pethidine-promethazine-chlorpromazine. Seven hours later, on arrival in the operating room, he was hypertensive and tachycardic. He was anaesthetized widi thiopentone, nitrous oxide and oxygen despite the absence of a urinanalysis. Blood pressure and pulse rate remained increased during anaesthesia and for 1 hour postoperatively but reverted to normal levels after the child urinated an amount twice to three times greater than the usual capacity of his bladder. Circulatory effects of distension of the urinary bladder have been demonstrated in animals and normal man and have been observed in anaesthetized patients. © 1970 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.