Ornipressin as vasoconstrictor in rhinosurgery

The haemostatic effect of a high concentration of ornipressin 5 IU/10 mls lidocaine was studied in 127 patients undergoing rhinosurgery under two types of general anaesthesia. Under halothane/enflurane anaesthesia blood pressure and heart rate remained nearly constant up to 15 minutes following local injection of ornipressin into the nasal tissues. Good haemostasis was achieved in 86.5 percent of cases. Under diazepam/fentanyl anaesthesia an elevation of blood pressure was observed following infiltration of ornipressin. Thus the high concentration cannot be recommended for cases with blood pressure dyscrasias. The haemostatic effect was either good in only 60 percent of the patients.