Effects of pindolol on the cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation.

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation often cause hypertension, tachycardia and arrhythmias, which may be exaggerated during rapid-sequence induction of anaesthesia. We have studied the efficacy of pindolol in attenuating the cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients receiving pindolol 2 micrograms kg-1 or 4 micrograms kg-1 3 min before induction of anaesthesia in a double-blind design. The data were compared with those in a control group receiving saline. Each group consisted of 10 patients undergoing elective surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1 i.v. and tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.2 mg kg-1. Patients receiving saline showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate associated with tracheal intubation. These increases after tracheal intubation were reduced in pindolol 4 micrograms kg-1 treated patients compared with those in the control group (P less than 0.05). Pindolol 2 micrograms kg-1 attenuated tachycardia in response to intubation but did not affect hypertension. These data suggest that a bolus injection of pindolol 4 micrograms kg-1 is a simple, practical and effective method for attenuating cardiovascular responses to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.