Effects of pindolol on the cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation

Abstract

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation often cause hypertension and tachycardia, which may be exaggerated during rapid-sequnce induction of anaesthesia.We was studied the efficacy pindolol in attenuating the cardiiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients receiving pindolol 2 μg kg-1 or 4 μg g-1 min before induction of anaesthesia in a double-blind design. The data were compared with those for a control group receiving saline. Each group consisted of 10 patients undergoing elective surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1 i.v. and trachea/intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.2mg kg-1 Patients receiving saline showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate associated with tracheal intubation. These increases after tracheal intubation were reduced in pindolol 4 4 4 μg kg--1 treated patients compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). Pindolol 2 μg kg-1 attenuated tachycardia in response to intubation but did not afftect hypertension. These data suggest that a bolus injection of pindololμg 4 kg--1 is a simple, practical and effective method for atenuating cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. © 1991 British Journal of Anaesthesia.