The present study was undertaken in
patients with controlled
hypertension to determine the pressor responses following insertion of
laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as compared to
endotracheal intubation. Two hundred
patients with controlled
hypertension of either
sex,
belonging to ASA II undergoing
elective surgical procedures of 11/2 to 2 hours duration, were studied in a randomised manner into two equal groups A(n =100) and B(n = 100) depending on whether LMA or endotracheal tube was used. General anaesthesia and controlled
ventilation was undertaken according to standard
procedure. Baseline and preinsertion values of
heart rate, systolic
blood pressure, and diastolic
blood pressure were recorded and repeated at 1, 2 and 3 minutes after insertion of LMA or
endotracheal intubation. The results showed that increase in systolic and diastolic
blood pressure following
endotracheal intubation (group A) was much more as compared to LMA (group B) (p<0.01).
Heart rate also increased from baseline value in
endotracheal intubation group than in LMA (P<0.05). To conclude insertion of LMA was associated with lesser
pressure response as compared to
endotracheal intubation in
patients with controlled
hypertension. It is an effective
method to avoid laryngoscopic pressor response during
endotracheal intubation in hypertensive
patients.