A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO DOSES OF INTRAVENOUS DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN THE ATTENUATION OF STRESS RESPONSE DURING LARYNGOSCOPY AND TRACHEAL INTUBATION

Abstract

Background: The augemented cardiovascular reflexes in the form of tachycardia and hypertension brought about by the noxious stimulus of laryngoscopy and intubation can prove to be detrimental for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Several drugs and techniques have been tried by anaesthesiologists to attenuate the stress response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Alpha 2 agonist such as clonidine and dexmedetomidine have been used by some researchers for attenuation of the stress response during laryngoscopy. Although they found promising results, the higher doses of dexmedetomidine of 1mcg/kg was associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular compromise in the form of hypotension and bradycardia. Hence this study was undertaken with different doses of dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg/kg and o.75 mcg/kg to arrive at an optimal dose of dexmedetomidine for attenuation of stress response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.