Comparative Evaluation of Nalbuphine and Fentanyl for Attenuation of Pressor Response to Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Background In this study, our primary aim was to compare the efficacy of fentanyl and nalbuphine in attenuating the pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. The secondary aim was to observe hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum and to study the level of sedation using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS). Methodology A total of 180 patients belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologist Physical Status class I/II scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were divided into two groups of 90 each. group A received intravenous nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg and group B received intravenous fentanyl 2 μg/kg, five minutes before induction of anesthesia. Technique of anesthesia was standardized for all patients in the study. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded before giving the study drug; before induction; immediately after intubation; at one, three, and five minutes after intubation; before creating pneumoperitoneum; 15 minutes after creating pneumoperitoneum; and five minutes after release of pneumoperitoneum. Preoperative and postoperative sedation scoring was done using RASS. Results Immediately after intubation, HR was significantly higher in group A (p = 0.016). Both groups showed a rise in SBP immediately after intubation. Group A showed a significantly higher SBP in comparison to group B (135.97 ± 13.02 vs. 130.04 ± 13.33; p = 0.003). The DBP and MAP showed a similar trend. At one, three, and five minutes after intubation, HR, SBP, DBP, and MAP were similar between the groups. Post-extubation sedation score was significantly higher in group A (p < 0.0001). Conclusions We found that fentanyl was more effective than nalbuphine in attenuating the pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. There was no significant difference observed between nalbuphine and fentanyl in the hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum. The depth of sedation post-extubation was significantly greater with nalbuphine.