European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Surgery is an event that causes anxiety among the majority of patients. In addition, laryngoscopy and intubation cause disturbance in the heart rate and blood pressure rhythm. Together preoperative anxiety and intubation can prove harmful for some patients.
Aim: To observe the clinical effects of Clonidine on anxiety & cardiovascular parameters (pressor response) during direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
Material and Methods: A single-centre, parallel-group, two-arm, 1:1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, intervention study. A total of 100 participants: 50 in the clonidine group and 50 in the placebo group were enrolled in the present study. Participants in the clonidine group were given oral clonidine at a dose of 200 micrograms 90 minutes before induction.
Results: The increase in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure was significantly less among patients given clonidine in comparison to placebo. In addition, participants given Clonidine showed fewer fluctuations in their heart rate and blood pressure throughout the surgery. Participants given Clonidine were more less anxious before surgery in comparison to those given the placebo. None of the participants given Clonidine had any adverse effect.
Conclusion: Clonidine is effective at attenuating the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. In addition, Clonidine has an anxiolytic action.