Attenuation of Hemodynamic Response to Tracheal Extubation: A Comparative Study between Esmolol and Labetalol

Cardiovascular stress response to extubation can result in elevated heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressures which can be detrimental in high-risk patients.

The objective of this study is to compare the esmolol and labetalol efficacy in attenuating hemodynamic response to tracheal extubation.

Sixty patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures were selected randomly and divided into two groups of thirty each. Group I - esmolol 1.5 mg/kg and Group II - labetalol 0.25 mg/kg were administered 2 min before extubation after following a standard perioperative anesthetic management. Hemodynamic parameters recorded include HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) at baseline, reversal, study drug, 1 min after study drug, extubation, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 15 min postextubation.

Student's t-test and analysis of variance have been used to find the significance of study parameters between groups of patients. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Both esmolol and labetalol obtunded extubation response throughout the extubation and postextubation period. At extubation and immediately postextubation at 1^st and 2^nd min, there was statistical significance (P < 0.05) in SBP, DBP, and MAP which showed esmolol was better than labetalol. Whereas labetalol was more efficient in controlling HR at 5^th and 15^th min postextubation having statistical significance.

Both esmolol and labetalol attenuated hemodynamic response. Esmolol was more efficient than labetalol at extubation and immediately postextubation. If patient has tachycardia at extubation, labetalol is preferred. If patient has raised blood pressure, then esmolol is a good option in blunting the response.