Oral Gabapentin Pretreatment to Attenuate the Haemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation

Abstract

Introduction: Laryngoscopy and intubation are associated with transient sympathetic responses manifesting as a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of oral gabapentin pretreatment in the attenuation of such haemodynamic response.

Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patients aged 16 to 60 years weighing 50 to 75 kg undergoing elective surgeries requiring endotracheal intubation were randomized into two groups. group G received 900 mg oral gabapentin and group P received a placebo by mouth two hours before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were induced with propofol, fentanyl, and vecuronium. Laryngoscopy was attempted after four minutes and endotracheal intubation was done. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure at baseline, before intubation, one, three, five, and ten minutes after intubation were compared between two groups. Patients were observed for any adverse events peri-operatively and post-operatively for the first 24 hours.

Results: There was significant attenuation of the rise in blood pressure and heart rate before and after intubation in both groups compared with their corresponding baseline parameters. A significant decrease in heart rate was observed in the gabapentin group only 10 minutes after laryngoscopy and intubation (p=0.022).

Conclusions: Oral Gabapentin 900 mg two hours before induction is effective in attenuating the rise in blood pressure and heart rate following laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, though a statistically significant difference was observed only at 10 minutes after intubation, compared with a placebo group. Besides the significant incidence of pre-induction somnolence, there were no serious perioperative adverse effects.