ADMINISTRATION OF A CRYSTALLOID FLUID PRELOAD DOES NOT PREVENT THE DECREASE IN ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE AFTER INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA WITH PROPOFOL AND FENTANYL

Anaesthesia was induced in 58 women (ASA I or II) undergoing elective gynaecological procedures, using propofol 2.5 mg kg(-1) and fentanyl 1 .5 mu g kg(-1). Patients were allocated to receive 20 ml kg(-1) of cry stalloid fluid preload over 20 min or to receive no fluids before indu ction of anaesthesia. A significant decrease in systolic arterial pres sure (<75% of baseline value) occurred in both the fluid-loaded and th e control groups, and was similar in both groups. Administration of a fluid preload did not attenuate the decrease in systolic arterial pres sure after induction of anaesthesia with propofol and fentanyl.