[Prevention by pindolol of electrocardiographic changes during bronchoscopy performed under local and general...

Sixty patients were studied with respect to ECG modifications during bronchoscopy under local or general anesthesia, using dynamic electrocardiography. The increase in heart rate and incidence of extra-systoles were greater under local than general anesthesia. When pindolol, a beta-blocker with practically no bronchospastic effect was administered before the procedure, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of tachycardia and extra-systoles. This drug appears to be useful before bronchoscopy.