• K S Chung, R S Sinatra, and J H Chung.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
• J Clin Anesth. 1992 Jan 1; 4 (1): 11-5.

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of an intermediate dose of labetalol (0.4 mg/kg) for attenuation of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to laryngoscopy and intubation.DesignRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.SettingInpatient gynecology service at a university medical center.PatientsTwo groups of 18 patients each undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia.InterventionsPatients received either 0.4 mg/kg of labetalol or an equal volume of normal saline 5 minutes prior to laryngoscopy and intubation.Measurements And Main ResultsHR and BP were measured upon arrival in the operating room (OR) (baseline) and at 1 minute intervals thereafter for 4 minutes prior to intubation and through 10 minutes following intubation. The labetalol group had a significantly lower HR from induction through 1 minute following intubation. Intragroup differences in HR were greatest immediately following laryngoscopy and intubation (33% increase above baseline for the placebo group vs 1% for the labetalol group, p less than 0.05). At the same time, a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from baseline was noted in both groups (29% for the placebo group vs 23% for the labetalol group), but the difference between the groups was not significant.ConclusionsAn intermediate dose of labetalol blunted the HR response to laryngoscopy and intubation during rapid-sequence induction in healthy patients but had a minimal effect on BP.

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