EFFECT OF NEBULIZED LIGNOCAINE ON AIRWAY IRRITATION AND HEMODYNAMIC-CHANGES DURING INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA WITH DESFLURANE

This study was designed to assess the effect of nebulized lignocaine o r saline given before induction on the quality of induction of anaesth esia with desflurane in unpremedicated, young, adult males. Of the fir st six patients, five developed laryngospasm, breath-holding, coughing and increased secretions. In four patients oxygen saturation decrease d to 92% or less. Significant tachycardia and hypertension occurred in four patients, and bradyarrhythmia after induction occurred in three patients. Hiccups and bronchospasm occurred in one patient. Because of the unacceptably high incidence of complications, the study was disco ntinued. The incidence and severity of complications were not decrease d by administration of nebulized lignocaine and were higher than those reported by other workers. We conclude that in unpremedicated, young, adult males, induction of anaesthesia with desflurane and nitrous oxi de in oxygen was associated with a high incidence of respiratory irrit ant effects, tachycardia, hypertension and post-induction bradyarrhyth mia. We also found that lignocaine, as used in this study, did not app ear to obtund the cardiovascular and respiratory complications during inhalation induction using desflurane.