Comparison of the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine, Clonidine and control in attenuating Intubation response

Endotracheal intubation includes laryngoscopy & intubation. The process of laryngoscopy & intubation are noxious stimuli & therefore constitute a period of extreme hemodynamic stress and is associated with intense sympathetic activity marked by tachycardia & hypertension 1. Hence the search for an ideal agent to attenuate the hemodynamic responses is still continuing. Alpha-2 agonists have been used for attenuating the sympathetic response21 and among α-2 agonists both Clonidine and Dexmedetomidine appear to fulfil all the criteria of ideal agent.
The study was undertaken to compare the effects of Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine in attenuating hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation. This study was done in 90 patients divided into 3 groups, in operation theatre in the department of anesthesiology, NRIAS.
This study showed that IV bolus dose of Dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg administered 10 minutes before laryngoscopy and intubation can be recommended to attenuate the sympathetic response to laryngoscopy and intubation without any side effects than clonidine.