The effect of pre‐induction glycopyrronium on the haemodynamic response of elderly patients to anaesthesia with propofol

This study investigated whether pretreatment with glycopyrronium can attenuate the hypotension caused by anaesthesia of the elderly with propofol. Twenty elderly patients (77.1 ± 2.44 years, mean±SEM) of ASA physical status 2 or 3 scheduled for elective urological procedures were given glycopyrronium 0 (n = 10) or 5 μ.kg⁻¹ (n = 10) in a randomised, double‐blind manner, 5 min before induction of anaesthesia with propofol infused at 600 ml.h⁻¹ (average induction dose 1.7±0.06 mg.kg⁻¹, mean±SEM) followed by maintenance with a propofol infusion at 10 mg.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹. Although glycopyrronium significantly increased heart rate (p < 0.01, AOVA), the decrease in blood pressure 2 and 5 min after induction was similar in both groups. The study had a power of 80% to detect a 20 mmHg difference in systolic arterial pressure between treatment groups with p < 0.05.