HEMODYNAMIC-RESPONSE TO TRACHEAL INTUBATION OR LARYNGEAL MASK INSERTION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

The haemodynamic response to laryngeal mask insertion and tracheal int ubation was studied in 27 hypertensive patients who underwent elective ophthalmic surgery. Both groups received alfentanil 15 mu g/kg, thiop entone 3 - 4 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg and were ventilated with o xygen, nitrous oxide and isoflurane for 3 minutes prior to laryngeal m ask insertion or tracheal intubation. Blood pressure and heart rate de creased equally in both groups after induction of anaesthesia. Haemody namic variables increased after tracheal intubation but were unchanged after laryngeal mask insertion (P < 0.05 for intergroup differences). Heart rate, but not blood pressure, increased above baseline levels i n the tracheal intubation group. The anaesthetic technique used blunte d the haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation, but completely blo cked the response to laryngeal mask insertion.