Hemodynamic Stress Response in Controlled Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Comparison of I-Scope Video Laryngoscope and Macintosh Laryngoscope

Laryngoscopy and intubation cause activation of the sympathetic nervous system and can results in tachycardia, arrhythmias and hypertension. Hypertensive patients demonstrate a relatively greater rise in catecholamine secretion and an increased sensitivity to them. Aim of the study is to compare the haemodynamic stress response associated with orotracheal intubation using videolaryngoscope or Macintosh laryngoscope in controlled hypertensive patients.

Sixty hypertensive, American Society of Anesthesiologist’s class II, patients were randomly divided in to two groups. In group V (videolaryngoscope), intubation was done with i-scope videolaryngoscope. In group M (Macintosh), intubation was done using Macintosh laryngoscope. Primary objectives of the study pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MBP) were noted immediately after and at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation.

The demographic data were comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference at baseline for mean (SD) PR, SBP, DBP and MBP at baseline and after induction/before intubation (p>0.05). The mean (SD) PR, SBP, DBP and MBP were significantly higher in Macintosh laryngoscope group as compared to i-scope videolaryngoscope immediately after intubation, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after intubation (p<0.001).

We found that intubation with the use of i-scope videolaryngoscope results in less haemodynamic stress response than Macintosh laryngoscope in controlled hypertensive patients.