ABSTRACT
Endotracheal intubation with the help of a laryngoscope has become a routine part of delivering a general anaesthetic. In general, intubation is indicated for patients who are at risk of aspiration and for those undergoing surgical procedures (1,2).Tracheal intubation causes a reflex increase in sympathetic activity that may result in rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and arrhythmia (3). Achange in plasma catecholamine concentrations also has been demonstrated to be a part of the stress response to tracheal intubation. Various supraglottic devices have provided conflicting evidence of an attenuated haemodynamic response. Materials and Methods:100 Patients divided into two groups (n=50)of 25-60 years of age of either sex with hypertension stage-1 of ASAgrade II on oral anti-hypertensives drugs were selected for the study and endotracheal tube inserted in ETgroup where as LMAinserted in group LMA.Results:Haemodynamics (heart rate, blood pressure, rate pressure product) changes is more in group ETafter induction compared to group LMA.Conclusion:Pressor response and duration of the pressor response to laryngeal mask airway insertion is much less than that of laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation which establishes the usefulness of LMAin hypertensive patients.