Why the study?
Propofol induction often causes hypotension driven by decreased cardiac index in elderly patients, and whether norepinephrine attenuates this reduction while preserving blood pressure was evaluated.
Does prophylactic infusion of norepinephrine reduce the decrease in cardiac index in elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia?
Population
60 elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia
Comparison
Norepinephrine infusion (6 µg/ml) vs saline
Design
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Follow-up
10 min post-intubation
Key result
Prophylactic infusion of norepinephrine during propofol induction significantly attenuated the decrease in cardiac index compared to saline (β 0.63; 95% CI 0.18-1.07; P=0.006).
Authors
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NE preserves CI during propofol induction in elderly surgical patients; extends evidence guiding vasopressor choice in geriatric anesthesia.
RCT (n=60)
Double-blind
Randomized
Does prophylactic infusion of norepinephrine reduce the decrease in cardiac index in elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia?
Mean Difference: 0.63 (95% CI 0.18–1.07)
p-value: p=0.006
Prophylactic infusion of norepinephrine effectively attenuates the decrease in cardiac index and maintains mean arterial pressure during propofol-induced anesthesia in elderly patients.
Peng et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Elective major abdominal surgery under general anesthesia (n=60). Norepinephrine vs. Saline was evaluated on Change in cardiac index (△CI) at 10 min post-intubation (β 0.63, 95% CI 0.18-1.07, p=0.006). Prophylactic infusion of norepinephrine during propofol induction significantly attenuated the decrease in cardiac index compared to saline (β 0.63; 95% CI 0.18-1.07; P=0.006).
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