Oral propranolol premedication and hypotensive anesthesia in shoulder arthroscopic surgery : a randomized controlled double-blind study

Abstract EN

Objective The current study tested whether premedication with oral propranolol (10 mg) before hypotensive anesthesia in shoulder arthroscopic surgery could diminish refl ex tachycardia following endotracheal intubation and nitroglycerine ( NTG) infusion, the amount of NTG used, and the minimum alveolar concentration ( MAC) values of inhalational anesthetic used during hypotensive anesthesia for shoulder arthroscopic surgery.

Patients and methods A total of 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists ( ASA) I patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopic surgery were included in this randomized controlled double-blinded study on oral propranolol (10 mg) or placebo as a premedication 1 h before the induction of anesthesia.

Hemodynamic variables, the amount of NTG, and the MAC values of inhalational anesthetic used were recorded.

Visual fi eld visibility by the surgeon using visual analogue score was assessed.

Results The heart rate, amount of NTG, and the MAC values of sevofl urane used were highly signifi cantly lower (P < 0.01) in the propranolol group; however, no signifi cant difference (P > 0.05) was found in the visual analogue score of the surgeon between the two groups.

No statistically signifi cant complications were observed in either group.

Conclusion Premedication with 10 mg of oral propranolol before shoulder arthroscopic surgery was effective in achieving hypotensive anesthesia.

It reduced refl ex tachycardia, decreased NTG, and sevofl urane consumption without recorded complications.