European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: The process of Laryngoscopy & Intubation is a noxious stimulus, therefore constituting a period of intense sympathetic activity. Various non-pharmacological & pharmacological methods have been used to attenuate this hemodynamic response. Opioids are potent agents that can attenuate pressor response by maintaining the proper depth of anaesthesia. Although there are few studies comparing opioids in attenuating hemodynamic response during intubation, none of them incorporated measuring serum cortisol levels during intubation. Henceforth, in our study, we have compared the efficacy of bolus administration of intravenous (IV) fentanyl, IV morphine and IV nalbuphine to suppress the pressor response and serum cortisol level during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.
Objectives:
1) To evaluate the efficacy of Intravenous (IV) opioids in attenuating the stress response and serum cortisol levels during endotracheal intubation.
Materials and Methods: In our study, 60 ASA I and II patients, aged between 20 to 60 years were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups. Of the three groups group I (received Fentanyl 2 mcg/kg), group II (Received Morphine 0.1mg/kg), and group III (received Nalbuphine 0.2mg/kg). Patients who are pregnant, lactating or illicitly abusing centrally acting drugs, or allergic to the drug under study are excluded from the study After random group allocation hemodynamic parameters like heart rate, blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure were monitored at baseline followed by a 1-minute interval up to 4 minutes after intubation. Furthermore, Blood sampling was done in the preoperative ward followed by a 5- and 10-minutes period after intubation intraoperatively for measuring serum cortisol levels. Conclusion: Comparatively, fentanyl caused a significant reduction in stress response during laryngoscopy and intubation followed by morphine and nalbuphine.