[The effect of nitroglycerin ointment on cardiovascular functions in hypertensive patients during emergence from...

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nitroglycerin (TNG) ointment to attenuate the cardiovascular response of hypertensive patients during emergence from anesthesia compared with the effects of TNG infusion and nifedipine instillation in the nose. In addition, plasma TNG concentration was measured in the TNG ointment group and TNG infusion group. TNG 30 mg in ointment reduced the arterial pressure during extubation without producing hypotension and tachycardia. There was no significant difference in plasma TNG concentration between TNG ointment group and TNG infusion group each receiving 0.3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1. The study suggests that TNG ointment is useful for regulation of arterial pressure in hypertensive patients during emergence from anesthesia.