The effect of prophylactic metaraminol on systemic hypotension caused by induction of anaesthesia with propofol in patients over 55 years old

We conducted a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study evaluatin g the efficacy of prophylactic metaraminol for preventing propofol-induced hypotension. Thirty patients aged 55-75 years undergoing general anaesthesi a were randomly allocated to receive either metaraminol 0.5 mg or saline be fore administration of fentanyl 1 mug.kg(-1) I and propofol 2 mg.kg(-1). In duction of anaesthesia was associated with a decrease in mean and systolic arterial pressure in both groups (p = 0.0001). However, there was no signif icant difference between the two groups. These results show that prophylact ic use of metaraminol 0.5 mg does not prevent the decrease in blood pressur e following fentanyl and propofol induction in older patients.