Blood pressure response of neonates to tracheal intubation

Blood pressure and pulse rate responses to tracheal intubation were studied by oscillotonometric technique in 45 term neonates and 15 infants of similar postconceptual age. No hypertensive response was found in neonates intubated awake and pressures did not differ from those of babies intubated under halothane or after thiopentone and muscle relaxant. The infants did however show a significant increase in systolic and diastolic pressures which indicates that this response may develop after the first month of life.