Publications
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ORAL CLONIDINE WITH ORAL DIAZEPAM AS PREMEDICATION IN PATIENTS FOR GENERAL ANAESTHESIA
Yathish Nanjaiah, Moses Charles Dsouza, Rahul Fernandez, Sumithra Selvam BACKGROUND
The sequence of induction of anaesthesia, laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation is associated with marked haemodynamic changes
and autonomic reflex activity which may be a cause of concern in many high-risk patients. Objective of this study is to compare the
effects of oral Clonidine with Diazepam with respect to anxiolysis, sedation, anaesthetic requirements, heart rate, blood pressure,
attenuation of sympathetic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation, respiratory rate and undesirable effects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
100 ASA I and II status normotensive patients scheduled for elective surgical procedure were selected randomly and divided into
two groups of 50 each. Group I received 3 μgm/kg oral Clonidine and Group II received oral Diazepam 10 mg, 90 minutes before
induction of anaesthesia. Anxiolysis, sedation, anti-sialagogue effect, respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure
were recorded during premedication and 90 minutes after premedication. Also, the HR, systolic, diastolic blood pressures were
recorded non-invasively during induction, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes from the onset of laryngoscopy. Also, the dose of thiopentone
injected intravenously till the loss of eyelash reflex was calculated and any undesirable effects were looked for.
RESULTS
After premedication with oral Clonidine 3 μgm/kg BW, heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate were equally
comparable to oral Diazepam, however systolic blood pressure decreased in the Clonidine group and also the dose of Inj.
Thiopentone was less in Clonidine group. After intubation, the incidence of tachycardia was significantly greater in the Diazepam
group than in Clonidine group. Rise in SBP and DBP were also statistically significant in Diazepam group than in Clonidine group.
CONCLUSION
Clonidine provides better anxiolysis without any change in the respiratory pattern when compared with Diazepam group. Oral
Clonidine 3 μgm/kg provides a consistent, reliable and effective attenuation of pressor response as compared to Diazepam 10 mg.
