Plasma catecholamine and hemodynamic responses to the placement of epinephrine-impregnated gingival retraction cord

A double-blind randomized crossover study was conducted to measure the changes in heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, pulse pressure product, and plasma catecholamine levels for 60 minutes after the placement of racemic (r) epinephrine- or alum-impregnated retraction cords in intact gingival sulci of nine healthy volunteers. The r-epinephrine-impregnated cord produced significant (p less than 0.01) increases in plasma epinephrine concentrations after 60 minutes, but there were no epinephrine-induced hemodynamic changes. According to these findings, r-epinephrine-impregnated gingival retraction cord placed in an intact, nonlacerated gingival sulcus in a healthy young adult should produce no significant hemodynamic response. It is not known how the placement of epinephrine-impregnated retraction cord would affect elderly or medically compromised patients or patients with lacerated or periodontally involved gingivae.