GABAPENTIN ATTENUATES THE PRESSOR RESPONSE TO DIRECT LARYNGOSCOPY AND TRACHEAL INTUBATION

Abstract

Objective: To compare the hemodynamic stress response between gabapentin versus placebo among patients undergoing general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.

Study design: Double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Place and duration of study: Department of Anesthesia, Liaquat National Hospital & Medical College, Karachi, from 1st July 2025 to 31st December, 2025.

Methodology: Total 144 patients were equally divided into group-G (Gabapentin 300 mg) and group-P (placebo). Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure were measured before intubation, 2-minutes after intubation, and 5-minutes after Laryngoscopic intubation. SPSS was used for analysis. Normality was checked by Shapiro wilk test. Mean arterial pressure(MAP), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), and Heart rate (HR) at 5-minutes after intubation were compared between both groups using Mann-Whitney U-test. p-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: In group-G, 39(54.2%) were males and 33(45.8%) were females. In group-P, 37(51.4%) were males and 35(48.6%) were females. MAP after 5-minutes was 95(74-103) mmHg in group-G and 94.5 (86-118) mmHg in group-P. Median SBP after 5-minutes was 130 (99-143) mmHg in group-G and 118 (112-157) mmHg in group-P. Median DBP after 5-minutes was 76.5 (55-80) mmHg in group-G and 80.5 (61-94) mmHg in group-P. Median HR after 5-minutes was 96.5 (75-100) beats/min in group-G and 106 (98-116) beats/min in group-P. The results found significant differences in MAP, DBP, and HR but no significant difference was observed in SBP.

Conclusion: During laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation, gabapentin effectively reduced heart rate and pressor response Mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure.