THE HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF PROPOFOL IN COMBINATION WITH EPHEDRINE

Forty ASA1 patients for minor gynaecological surgery were randomly all ocated into four study groups to compare the haemodynamic effects of a dding different doses of ephedrine to an induction dose of propofol. H eart rate, oxygen saturation and non-invasive arterial blood pressure were monitored before and for 5 min after induction. In those patients who received propofol alone, there was a significant decrease in both systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p = 0.003) blood pressure. The ad dition of ephedrine 15 mg or 20 mg to 1% propofol 20 ml was very effec tive in maintaining blood pressure at pre-induction values. There was a statistically significant increase from base line in systolic (p = 0 .004) and diastolic (p = 0.031) pressures, but this only occurred at 1 min postinduction. The addition of ephedrine 10 mg was insufficient t o prevent hypotension. There was no significant effect on either heart rate or oxygen saturation in any group. We conclude that ephedrine ma y be safely employed to reduce the degree of hypotension during induct ion with propofol in this patient group.