A Comparative Study of Dexmedetomidine and Esmolol for Attenuation of Haemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation

BACKGROUND AND AIMSThe present study compared the efficacy of Esmolol and Dexmedetomidine for attenuation of the haemodynamic stress response to laryngoscopy and intubation in elective general surgical patients. STUDY DESIGNProspective randomized double blinded study. MATERIAL AND METHODSTotal of 60 patients aged 20-60 years with ASA physical status I or II of either sex, scheduled for elective surgical procedures under general anaesthesia were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to two equal groups of 30 each. Group D received an IV infusion of 1 g/kg of dexmedetomidine diluted up to 50 ml with 0.9 % salineand Group E received 2 mg/kg of Esmolol diluted up to 50 ml with 0.9 % saline. All the drugs were infused over a period of 10 min. General anaesthesia wasinduced and patients were intubated after 3 minutes as per the study protocol. The parameters monitored were Heart rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) at baseline, post intubation and at intervals of 3, 5, 7 and 10 minutespost orotracheal intubation. RESULTSData was compared using paired t-test and the reduction in Heart Rate was found to be statistically significant (pless than 0.05) at all intervals. There was also significant decrease in Systolic, Diastolic and Mean Arterial Pressuresduring the immediate post intubation period and at 10 minute interval (pless than 0.05). CONCLUSIONDexmedetomidine 1 g/kg IV infusion is more effective than Esmolol IV infusion for attenuating the sympathomimetic response to laryngoscopy and intubation in elective general surgical patients.