BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the effect of glycopyrrolate or atropine on attenuating hemodynamic responses such as bradycardia and hypotension during anesthetic induction with remifentanil and sevoflurane in elderly patients, in a randomized placebo-controlled double blinded manner.

METHODS: 60 patients over 65 years with ASA physical status 1 or 2 were allocated to one of three groups of 20 each. Each group received saline placebo (group C) or glycopyrrolate 4µg/kg (group G) or atropine 0.5 mg (group A) immediately after induction of anesthesia, and then remifentanil 1µg/kg bolus was given over 30s. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before anesthetic induction, before intubation, and during 5 minutes after intubation at 1 minute interval.

RESULTS: MAP remained stable and HR increased significantly 1 min after intubation in all groups. MAP decreased significantly during 2-5 minute after intubation in all groups. HR decreased in the group C, remained stable in the group G, and increased in the group A significantly during 3-5 minute after intubation. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg checked twice) occurred in 8 patients in the group C, 1 patient in the group G, and none in the group A.

CONCLUSIONS: Glycopyrrolate and atropine attenuated the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscropy and intubation during anesthetic induction with remifentanil 1µg/kg bolus dose and sevoflurane.