The use of propranolol in rapid sequence anaesthetic induction: optimal time interval for pretreatment

Forty patients ASA physical status I-III were selected and divided into four groups. Group I, Control, received saline pretreatment five minutes prior to rapid sequence induction and intubation, while Groups II, III and IV received propranolol 0.01 mg X kg-1 IV two, five or eight minutes prior to induction and intubation. Measurements of heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (ABP) were recorded as baseline values and at one, two, five, eight and 20 minutes, and simultaneous venous samples were withdrawn for propranolol levels. Calculated rate pressure product (RPP) showed best haemodynamic control in Group III. Serum propranolol levels were under 5 ng X ml-1 in Group III and undetectable in Group IV. Our data show that the optimal time interval between IV propranolol administration and intubation was five minutes.