A randomized comparative study of preloading with Ringers lactate and intravenous Ephedrine for the prevention of hypotension due to propofol during induction of general anesthesia

Background: The ideal method to prevent hypotension due to intravenous propofol for induction of anesthesia is still debatable. The aim of the study was to compare the hemodynamic response of ephedrine and volume loading with ringer lactate in preventing the hypotension caused by propofol as inducing agent in patients scheduled for elective surgeries requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.Methods: This was prospective randomized study conducted in 40 patients of ASA physical status I, aged 20-50 years, scheduled for elective surgeries requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Group I received intravenous ephedrine sulphate (70 mcg/kg) just before induction of anaesthesia, and patients assigned to Group II received preloading with Ringer's lactate (12 ml/kg) over the 10-15 minutes before the administration of propofol. The variables compared were heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure following induction of anesthesia till 10 minutes after intubation of trachea.Results: We found that there were increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure after induction in both the groups but the difference between the groups was not significant. The increase in heart rate was found to be significantly higher in ephedrine group in comparison to volume loading group.Conclusion: Our study showed that both the methods used were equally effective in preventing hypotension induced by propofol in the adult ASA physical status I patients requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. However, the heart rate was significantly higher in patients receiving ephedrine in comparison to volume loading group.