Comparative effects of thiopentone and propofol on respiratory resistance after tracheal intubation

R. S.C. Wu*, K. C. Wu, D. C.W. Sum, M. J. Bishop

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

To compare the effects of propofol and thiopentone on tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction, 37 patients were allocated randomly to anaesthesia with either thiopentone 4 mg kg-1 followed by a 15-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion or propofol 3 mg kg-1 followed by a 9-mg kg-1 h-1 continuous infusion. Intubation was facilitated by vecuronium 0.1-0.2 mg kg-1. Respiratory system resistance (Rrs) was measured by a CP-100 pulmonary function monitor, 5 min after intubation. The 5-min post-intubation Rrs values were significantly lower in the propofol group (8.5 (SD 1.5) cm H2O litre-1 s-1) than in the thiopentone group (10.9 (3.2) cm H2O litre-1 s-1). Thirty minutes after commencing isoflurane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia, Rrs declined by 17.5 (SEM 3.6) % from baseline in the thiopentone group, but by only 1.6 (2.6) % in the propofol group. We conclude that the dose of propofol administered provided more protection against tracheal intubation-induced bronchoconstriction than an induction dose of thiopentone.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)735-738
Number of pages4
JournalBritish Journal of Anaesthesia
Volume77
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anaesthetics i.v., propofol
  • Anaesthetics i.v., thiopentone
  • Complications, bronchospasm
  • Intubation tracheal

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