A Comparative Study of Clonidine and Gabapentin for Attenuating Hemodynamic Responses to Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation

Laryngoscopy and intubation are associated with stress response changes like tachycardia, hypertension and dysrhythmias. The hemodynamic responses during laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation should be abolished to balance the myocardial oxygen supply and demand which is a key note in the safe conduct of anaesthesia. Many studies have shown Clonidine , a selective α2 adrenoceptor agonist with sedative and analgesic effects, to be an effective drug for attenuation of hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation. Gabapentin, is a newer drug being used as an antiepileptic . Recently few studies have shown it to be useful for attenuation of intubation responses. Here we have compared the effects of Clonidine and Gabapentin for attenuating hemodynamic effects on laryngoscopy and intubation. We found that Gabapentin was a better drug compared to clonidine to attenuate the pressor response associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, but the tachycardiac response is not completely attenuated. More over incidence of side effects is lower in patients treated with gabapentin.