Topical nitroglycerin prevents the pressor response to tracheal intubation and sternotomy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Thirty adult patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery were allocated randomly to one of two equal groups to receive either 2% nitroglycerin, or a placebo ointment, applied topically over an area of 5 cm by 10 cm, in a double-blind manner, 1 h before induction of anaesthesia. Premedication consisted of oral diazepam 5-10 mg, intramuscular morphine 0.2 mg.kg-1 and promethazine 0.4 mg.kg-1. Anaesthesia was induced with morphine 0.15-0.2 mg.kg-1 and thiopentone 3-5 mg.kg-1. Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation were facilitated by suxamethonium 1.5 mg.kg-1, and pancuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1 was used for subsequent muscle relaxation. Anaesthesia was maintained with 0.5% halothane and 40% oxygen in nitrous oxide. A significant increase in blood pressure occurred during and after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, and following midline sternotomy in the control group. These changes were absent in patients pretreated with topical nitroglycerin. The nitroglycerin group also maintained a lower rate-pressure product than the control group. We conclude that topical nitroglycerin is a simple and useful pretreatment to prevent the pressor response to tracheal intubation and midline sternotomy in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.