Low-dose continuous infusion of landiolol can reduce adrenergic response during tracheal intubation in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of low-dose infusion of landiolol on hemodynamics during tracheal intubation in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease. The study population consisted of 30 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II and III, aged 65-77 years, who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 each): a control group, receiving normal saline, and a landiolol group, receiving landiolol at 30 mu g/kg/min. After oxygenation, 1 mu g/kg of fentanyl was injected intravenously, followed by continuous infusion of normal saline or landiolol for 5 min. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with target-controlled infusion of propofol at a blood concentration of 4 mu g/ml and tracheal intubation was performed 3 min after vecuronium injection. Heart rate, blood pressure, and bispectral index were measured before and after tracheal intubation. Results showed that low-dose continuous infusion of landiolol is an effective and relatively safe method of preventing an intubation-induced adrenergic response in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.