Use of Preoperative Single Dose Ivabradine for Perioperative Hemodynamic Stabilization During Non-Cardiac Elective Surgery Under General Anaesthesia: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Peri-anesthetic hemodynamic fluctuations during non-cardiac surgeries are sometimes of serious consequences and associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially in undiagnosed vulnerable patients. Currently used drugs like β-blocker, α2 agonist or sedative analgesic have their own limitations like combined negative ionotropic and chronotropic action, and unwanted bradycardia associated with hypotension, respectively. In this context, ivabradine has been used extensively in cases of cardiac failure, myocardial ischemia and cardiomyopathies for its funny channel associated dependable heart rate reducing property. Hence, for the first time, in search of a better agent for perioperative hemodynamic stabilization, the present study evaluated the role of ivabradine in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgeries. METHODS: This was a prospective, observer blind, randomized, interventional pilot study, conducted among 50 patients belonging undergoing elective abdominal laparoscopic surgeries, under general anesthesia. The study group patients received ivabradine tablet 7.5 mg, 2 h before scheduled time of surgery with a sip of water. All the patients received standardized balanced general anesthesia as practiced in our institute with all standard monitoring with additional minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) monitoring to ensure an adequate depth of anesthesia, and neuromuscular monitoring to ensure adequate and standard muscle relaxation. Hemodynamic stability of the groups was tested by comparing them at time points like induction, incision and operation, and extubation. Mean values of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were compared between groups, and also for variation with lapse of time, using RMANOVA analysis, using baseline parameters as covariate so as to standardize them. RESULTS: On multivariate analysis using Wilk’s lambda multivariate test, there was a statistically significant difference (F = 3.587, P = 0.036) in HR between the groups with time, while no significant difference of SBP, DBP and MAP between the groups with time. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a significant attenuation of HR response to stressful events like laryngoscopy, intubation and surgical incision with ivabradine. Also, a good intraoperative protection against cardiovascular ischemic and arrhythmic episodes in perioperative period was achieved with this drug ivabradine.