Cardiovascular effects of fibreoptic oral intubation. A comparison of a total intravenous and a balanced volatile technique.

The cardiovascular response to fiberoptic oral intubation under total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol or a balanced volatile technique with thiopentone/enflurane was compared in 50 patients of physical status ASA 1 and 2 who were scheduled for elective ear, nose and throat surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol or enflurane. There was no significant difference between the two anaesthetic techniques in haemodynamic profile either before, during or after fibreoptic intubation (the study design was adequate to detect a 20% difference with > 90% statistical power), in incidence of postoperative sore throat or in time taken for intubation. In no patient did the oxygen saturation decrease to below 95% or the CO2 tension exceed 5.8 kPa.