[Effects of clonidine premedication upon hemodynamic changes associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation]

The authors studied 30 patients undergoing general anesthesia in order to evaluate whether oral clonidine premedication could attenuate the hemodynamic changes associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups; clonidine group (n = 15) who received oral clonidine of approximately 5 micrograms.kg-1, or control group (n = 15) who received no clonidine. The magnitude of increases in mean blood pressure from baseline values following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in the clonidine group was significantly smaller as compared with that in the control group (20 +/- 12 vs. 31 +/- 14 mmHg, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of systolic blood pressure increases above 180 mmHg following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (0% vs. 26%, P less than 0.05). However, no significant difference was noted between the two groups in the heart rate responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. It is concluded that oral clonidine of 5 micrograms.kg-1 as a preanesthetic medication could attenuate the pressor responses associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.