Effect of Nalbuphine on Haemodynamic Response to Orotracheal Intubation

BACKGROUND: Laryngoscopy and intubation are associated with increase in heart rate and mean blood pressure which are deleterious for patients especially with hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, raised intraocular and intracranial pressure. This study was undertaken with an objective to determine the efficacy of nalbuphine in preventing increase in heart rate and mean arterial pressure in response to laryngoscopy and orotracheal intubation. PATIENTS & METHODS: A randomized controlled, prospective, double blinded study was undertaken on 60 patients ASA grade I and II posted for elective laparoscopy surgery to receive either saline (group I, control group, n=30) or Nalbuphine 0.2mg kg(-1)(group II, study group, n=30 ) as a bolus dose, 5 minutes before laryngoscopy. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure were taken 3 minute after study drug (T-1), just after intubation (T-2), then after every minute till 5 min (T3-7) and after 10 min of intubation (T-8). Twenty percent rise in heart rate and mean arterial pressure was considered as significant. Students ‘t’ test was used for the analysis of data by using statistical software Medcal version 11.1.1.0. and P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There was significant rise in heart rate(20.4%) in group I after intubation at T-2 compared with baseline at T-1 as compared to group II (16.66%). Mean arterial pressure showed rise of 12.35% in group I and 4.39% in group II at T-2 but was not significant. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure then gradually decreased from T3-8 but remained slightly higher than group II at 8th minute. CONCLUSION: We thus conclude that Nalbuphine 0.2 mg kg (-1)prevented a marked rise in heart rate and mean arterial pressure associated with laryngoscopy and orotracheal intubation.