Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy involves the creation of pneumoperitoneum that causes changes in cardio- vascular and pulmonary physiology and stress response.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of clonidine as premedication on hemodynamic response during laparoscopic chole- cystectomy.
Materials and Methods: Sixty adult patients belonging to ASA physical status I or II, scheduled for laparoscopic cholecys- tectomy, were divided into two groups randomly, to receive (group S) intravenous clonidine (1.5 μg/kg) before intubation or (group C) normal saline as a placebo. Result: Significant rise in blood pressures [systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures (MAP)] and heart rate was observed in group C during laryngoscopy and intubation when compared with group S (MAP, 121.5 ± 8.45 to 120.5 ± 6.58 mm Hg in group S vs. 118.96 ± 13.07 to 143.6 ± 21.5 mm Hg in group C; heart rate, 85.77 ± 6.56 to 86.46 ± 7.80 bpm in group S vs. 81.13 ± 5.88 to 95.87 ± 3.74 bpm in group C). Similar results were obtained during creation of pneu- moperitoneum. Conclusion: Premedication with 1.5 μg/kg body weight of intravenous clonidine offers steady hemodynamics and pre- vention against stress response activated by pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients and, thus, can be advocated as a habitual premedication.