Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation are potent stimuli that increase heart rate and blood pressure. Especially, hypertensive patients are more prone to have significant increase in heart rate and blood pressure and cardiac complications such as arrythmia, myocardial ischemia and infarction can lead to fatal situation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of different dosage of propofol on cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation in hypertensive patients.

Sixty hypertensive patients, ASA PS 1 or 2, scheduled for elective surgery were selected randomly. They were divided into three groups(Group 1: propofol 2.0 mg/kg, Group 2: propofol 2.5 mg/kg, Group 3: propofol 3.0 mg/kg, n=20 in each group). Induction of Anesthesia was started with propofol 2.0 mg/kg(Group 1), 2.5 mg/kg(Group 2), 3.0 mg/kg(Group 3) and succinylcholine(1 mg/kg). After tracheal intubation, pancuronium bromide 0.08 mg/kg was injected, 50 % nitrous oxide in oxygen and 2 % enflurane were inhaled. Using noninvasive automatic blood pressure monitor(CRITIKON DINAMAP TM 1846SX, USA), blood pressure(systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure) and heart rate were measured at 4 points; 1) as the control value, on arrival to operating room, 2) 1 minute after tracheal intubation, 3) 3 minutes after intubation, 4) 5 minutes after intubation. RESULTS:In group 3, systolic, diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure at 1 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes after intubation were less increased than group 1, 2 and blood pressure response was more effectively blunted than heart rate response.

we suggested that 3.0 mg/kg of propofol for the induction of anesthesia could blunt hemodynamic changes caused by laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation in hypertensive patients, but we had to give attention to the side effect until postoperative period.