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Evaluation of gabapentin in attenuating pressor response to direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation


S Kiran
D Verma

Abstract

Background: To evaluate effect of gabapentin in attenuation of haemodynamic responses to direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
Methods: Hundred patients undergoing elective surgery were randomly allocated to two groups of 50 patients each. Patients in group A received gabapentin 800 mg and patients in group B received placebo capsules the night before and on the morning of surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and vecuronium. Systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressures (SAP, DAP, MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before and after the induction of anesthesia and 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 min after tracheal intubation.
Results: SAP was significantly lower in the gabapentin as compared to the control group 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 min after intubation [121 vs 135 (P < 0.001), 117 vs 132 (P < 0.001), 112 vs 124 (P < 0.001), 110 vs 118 (P < 0.05) and 107 vs 112 (P < 0.05) respectively]. DAP also was lower in the gabapentin group 0, 1, 3, and 5 min after intubation [77 vs 87 (P < 0.001), 74 vs 84 (P < 0.001), 70 vs 78 (P < 0.001) and 68 vs 74 (P < 0.05)]. MAP also was lower in the gabapentin group 0, 1, 3, and 5 min after intubation [92 vs 103 (P < 0.001), 88 vs 100 (P < 0.001), 84 vs 93 (P < 0.001) and 82 vs 88 (P < 0.05)]. HR also was lower in the gabapentin group 0, 1 and 3 min after intubation [90 vs 98 (P < 0.05), 88 vs 95 (P < 0.001) and 84 vs 90 (P < 0.05)].
Conclusion: Gabapentin, under the present study design attenuates the pressor response associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation but tachycardiac response is not completely eliminated.

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eISSN: 2220-1173
print ISSN: 2220-1181