Haemodynamic disturbances during anaesthesia in a patient receiving calcium channel blockers

Haemodynamic changes (supraventricular tachycardia, decreases in arterial pressure) were observed during laryngoscopy and intubation of the trachea in a patient receiving nifedipine and verapamil. Before the induced stresses of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, these drugs had controlled the patient's arterial pressure and heart rate satisfactorily, and possible reasons why this was not so at the commencement of anaesthesia are discussed.