[Reduction of the concentration of isoflurane prevents tachycardia and hypertension associated with tracheal intubation].

Background: High concentration of isoflurane often induces not only tachycardia but also hypertension during induction of anesthesia and causes further hyperdynamic changes after tracheal intubation.

Methods: Forty patients, ASA physical status I, were randomly assigned to receive 4% or 2.5% isoflurane. Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal and vecuronium followed by mask ventilation with 0.5% isoflurane in oxygen. Isoflurane concentration was gradually increased to 4% or 2.5% in 2 min and the trachea was intubated after 3 min. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded every minute from induction of anesthesia.

Results: Mask ventilation with isoflurane induced a significant increase in HR in both groups, but the HR just before intubation was significantly lower in the 2.5% group than in the 4% group. SBP was significantly decreased in the 2.5% group, but a transient increase was seen in the 4% group. Tracheal intubation induced a marked increase in HR in both groups, but the HR was significantly lower in the 2.5% group than in the 4% group (115 +/- 14 and 130 +/- 18 beats x min(-1), respectively; P < 0.01). SBPs just after intubation were 166 +/- 24 and 154 +/- 20 mmHg in the 4% and 2.5% groups, respectively. The difference between the groups was not significant, but the patients in whom the SBP increased more than 180 mmHg were significantly fewer in the 2.5% group than in the 4% group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Reduction of the isoflurane concentration from 4% to 2.5% during induction of anesthesia made the circulation stable, and decreased the incidence of excessive tachycardia and hypertension after tracheal intubation.