The haemodynamic effects of bronchoscopy. Comparison of propofol and thiopentone with and without alfentanil pretreatment.

The haemodynamic response to bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia was investigated. Forty patients were allocated at random to receive either thiopentone or propofol; half the patients in each group received in addition 18 micrograms/kg of alfentanil one minute before induction of anaesthesia. The heart rate, noninvasive blood pressure and Holter ECG was monitored in all patients. Significant increases in heart rate (p less than 0.05), systolic and diastolic arterial pressures (p less than 0.01) occurred in the thiopentone only group, following bronchoscopy. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressure decreased in patients receiving thiopentone plus alfentanil, following induction of anaesthesia and laryngoscopy (p less than 0.05). No significant haemodynamic changes were seen in either of the groups which received propofol. ST segment changes on subsequent Holter analysis were seen in four patients, but there were no significant differences between the groups. Anaesthesia with propofol alone provides adequate haemodynamic stability for bronchoscopy and the addition is superfluous.