Intranasal administration of nitroglycerine attenuates the pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation of the trachea.

The intranasal administration of nitroglycerine (NTG) was undertaken in 35 adult female patients 1 min before the induction of anaesthesia. A control group consisting of 32 patients did not receive NTG. Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before the induction of anaesthesia and at 0, 3, and 5 min after tracheal intubation. SAP did not increase significantly in the NTG group immediately after intubation, while significant decreases in SAP were observed at 3 and 5 min (P less than 0.005 and P less than 0.001 respectively). SAP did increase significantly in the control group. HR was increased in both groups immediately after intubation (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.001 respectively). NTG administered intranasally is a safe, simple and effective method to attenuate the hypertensive response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.