Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) prevents the pressure responses to tracheal intubation in hypertensive patients

Forty-five hypertensive patients for elective abdominal surgery were investigated regarding the effects of PGE1 on the cardiovascular responses to tracheal intubation. Administration of PGE1 at the dose of 0.10 or 0.20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 for 10 minutes before tracheal intubation significantly reduced the blood pressure responses immediately after the intubation and 2 minutes later. The increases in heart rate were not altered with and without the administration of PGE1. So the increases in rate pressure products were markedly reduced with PGE1 compared with the control values. Plasma concentration of catecholamines was measured before and after tracheal intubation. Norepinephrine was elevated markedly immediately after the intubation and this change was not affected by the infusion of PGE1. These results demonstrate that PGE1 ameliorates the pressure responses by the release of norepinephrine and thus reduces the increases in rate pressure products immediately after tracheal intubation.