[Use of nitroglycerin to prevent arterial hypertension during general anesthesia using ketamine]

Central hemodynamics was studied in 82 patients during surgery performed under various types of general intravenous ketamine anesthesia. Ketamine was shown to have a stimulating effect on hemodynamics both alone and in combinations with droperidol and diazepam. Single intravenous injection (0.25 mg) or drip infusion (0.3 micrograms/(kg.min) of nitroglycerin effectively prevented arterial hypertension, decreased peripheral vascular resistance and myocardial oxygen demand.