Indian Journal of Clinical Anaesthesia 2023;10(2):150–157
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Indian Journal of Clinical Anaesthesia
Journal homepage: www.ijca.in
Original Research Article
Comparative evaluation of propofol, thiopentone and etomidate on induction time,
intubation response and recovery time during laparoscopic surgery under general
Anaesthesia
Sooshrut Thakur
1
, Aarti Sharma
2
, Ramesh Kumar
2,
*, Jyoti Pathania
2
,
Garima Thakur
3
1
Dept. of Anaesthesia, Civil Hospital, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
2
Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
3
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Received 20-01-2023
Accepted 03-05-2023
Available online 05-06-2023
Keywords:
Hypotension
General surgery
Propofol
Etomidate
Barbiturates
Hemodynamics
ABSTRACT
Background: Optimal choice of inducing agent can partially modify the post induction hypotension,
having a reported incidence of 9-40% in various studies. So, we compared the induction and recovery
profile of the routinely available induction agents.
Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized, comparative study was carried out on 120, ASA
1 and II patients undergoing routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patient received either thiopentone 5
mg/kg, propofol 2.0 mg/kg or 0.3mg/kg injection etomidate at induction in group T, P and E respectively.
The time taken from the administration of inducing agent to loss of eyelash reflex was noted. Heart rate,
systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, SpO2 was recorded at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 minutes and every five
minutes after intubation. Steward score and the vitals were noted every 5 minutes after extubation till 30
minutes. It was noted that how long it took to get a Steward score of 6.
Results: The mean induction time (sec) was 49.85 ±2.54 in group T, 43.45 ±2.66 in group P and 52.675
±2.11 in group E. (p<0.0001). The increase in mean heart rate from baseline upon induction and intubation
was (10%, 31% in group T), (3%, 23% in group E) and (-7%, 16% in group P) (p<0.0001). Post induction
decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures observed in group T was (-9%, -4.5%, -6%),
(-12.8%, -9.8%, -11%), in group P and (-4.6%, -1.7%, -2.9%) in group E. (p<0.0001). Post intubation
increase in systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures was (21.76%, 18%, 19.7%) in group T, (16%,
8.1%, 11.7%) in group E and (9.6%, 0%, 4%) in group P. Mean recovery time in min was 5.87 ±0.23 min
with propofol, 6.97 ±0.28 with etomidate and 8.96 ±0.28 with thiopentone. (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Amongst the three agents, we recommend propofol as preferred agent for induction due
to faster induction, better attenuation of intubation response, faster recovery and stable hemodynamic
parameters.
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1. Introduction
Discovery of thiopentone in 1934 heralded the changes in
safe intravenous anesthesia practice followed by discovery
of etomidate and propofol.
1,2
Intravenous anaesthetics are
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: sooshrut@gmail.com (R. Kumar).
used to induce general anaesthesia in patients, in addition
they are used for sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU)
and the management of status epilepticus.
2
The quest for identification of an ideal intravenous
anaesthetic persist due to the cardiorespiratory depression
that all of these agents produce, despite their admirable
https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijca.2023.030
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