Effect of Nitroglycerin on the Control of Blood Pressure At Endotracheal Intubation

Abstract

Abnormal increase of blood pressure at endotracheal intubation often results in severe worsening of the patient's condition. So it was investigated whether the hypertension could be controlled by the intravenous administration of nitroglycerin (TNG). One hundred cases aged 16-79 were put into two groups. TNG (2mcg/kg/min) was infused to one of these groups (TNG group) and the other was not treated with TNG (Control group). Blood pressure, pulse rate, plasma catecholamine (CAT) and plasma renin activity (RA) were measured four times-at rest, before intubation, at intubation and after intubation.
There was a significant difference in the rate of increase in systolic blood pressure between the TNG group and the control group. However, there was no significant difference in diastolic pressure except in the cases aged 40-60. In the TNG group and the control group, CAT increased following intubation about 3.5 times and 1.8 times, respectively. A significant difference in CAT was noticed but not in RA. But it was also shown that CAT tended to decrease at 5 minutes after the termination of TNG infusion.
The infusion of TNG was clinically effective for depressing the hypertension at endotracheal intubation although transient increases in pulse rate and CAT were caused.