Effects of nilvadipine on the cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of nilvadipine given orally in attenuating the hypertensive response to laryngoscopy and intubation. DESIGN: Controlled, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Induction of anesthesia for elective surgery at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty normotensive patients (ASA physical status I) undergoing elective surgery were divided into three groups of ten patients each. INTERVENTIONS: Either 2 mg of nilvadipine, 4 mg of nilvadipine, or a placebo (control) was administered orally 90 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg intravenously, and tracheal intubation was facilitated with vecuronium 0.2 mg/kg. During anesthesia, ventilation was assisted or controlled with 1% enflurane and 50% nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen. Laryngoscopy lasting 30 seconds was attempted 2 minutes after administration of thiopental sodium and vecuronium. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients receiving the placebo showed a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate associated with tracheal intubation. The increase in MAP following tracheal intubation was significantly lower in nilvadipine-treated patients than in the control group (p less than 0.05). However, neither dose of nilvadipine attenuated the tachycardic response to intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of nilvadipine before induction of anesthesia is a simple and practical method for attenuating pressor response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation after standard elective induction under additional 1% enflurane-N2O anesthesia.