Comparative Study of Efficacy of Buprenorphine and Fentanyl on Attenuation of Hemodynamic Changes to Laryngoscopy and Intubation: A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind Study.

BACKGROUND Hemodynamic changes are the most common predicted response after laryngoscopy and intubation during general anesthesia. We compared the efficacy of buprenorphine with fentanyl to attenuate this stress response. METHODS One hundred and thirty patients of either sex between the age group of 18-70 years, admitted for the routine surgical procedure under general anesthesia were enrolled in this double blind, randomized, clinical study. Patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups (60 patients in each group): group F received fentanyl 2 μg/kg, and group B received buprenorphine 2.5 μg/kg; both via intravenous route. Each group received a total volume of 10 mL by adding normal saline to the total drug volume, given over 60 seconds, 5 minutes before intubation. Thereafter patients were induced using routine balanced anesthesia technique, and the hemodynamic parameters were observed at baseline (0 minute), 1, 3, and 5 minutes after the administration of the study drug and again at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes after intubation. Continuous variables were presented as mean with an 80% confidence interval, and a t-test was applied for comparing the difference of means between two groups after we checked the normality condition. Chi-square test was applied to test the independence of attributes of categorical variables. Repeated measures two-way analysis of variance was performed to compare the outcome variables between the two groups. RESULTS In both groups, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were statistically insignificant up to 5 minutes after study drug, thereafter mean HR and MAP at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 minutes after intubation, were statistically significant between the two groups, and P value was less than 0.05. CONCLUSIONS The dose of 2.5 μg/kg buprenorphine is an effective alternative to fentanyl 2 μg/kg for attenuating the hemodynamic response accompanying laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation without causing any hemodynamic adverse effect.