Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Labetalol for Attenuating Stress Response in Hypertensive Patients

Dexmedetomidine and Labetalol for Attenuating Stress Response in Hypertensive Patients

Authors

  • Rootaba Khalid Department of Anesthesia, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Farrukh Afzal Department of Anesthesia, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shaheer Nayyar Department of Anesthesia, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Sumayya Tariq Department of Anesthesia, Sharif Medical City Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shumaila Ashfaq Department of Anesthesia, Islam Medical and Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
  • Sara Sabir Department of Anesthesia, Islam Medical and Dental College, Sialkot, Pakistan
  • Rehana Feroze Department of Anesthesia, Kanad Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i2.3566

Keywords:

Dexmedetomidine, Labetalol, Laryngoscopy, Intubation, Intratracheal, Hemodynamics, Hypertension, General Anesthesia

Abstract

Laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation during general anesthesia provoke a sympathetic stress reaction that has significant hemodynamic changes. This can be risky, particularly in patients with controlled hypertension with compromised cardiovascular reserve. Objective: To compare the effect of dexmedetomidine and labetalol for attenuating stress response in hypertensive patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study that involved 200 controlled hypertensive patients admitted to the elective surgery and placed under general anesthetic procedures. Patients received Intravenous dexmedetomidine (0.1 mcg/kg) or labetalol (0.1 mg/kg). It was observed that the mean heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were measured at baseline and two minutes after endotracheal intubation. The statistics were performed using the independent sample t-test, which was used to compare the results observed between the two treatment groups. Results: The heart rate 2 minutes following intubation was much lower in Group D (78 ± 8.27 beats/minute) than in Group L (81 ± 5.30 beats/minute, p=0.0026). Further, the mean arterial blood pressure was declining remarkably in the dexmedetomidine group (98 ± 7.26 mmHg), compared to the labetalol group (101 ± 8.2 mmHg; p=0.0067). Conclusions: The present group of controlled hypertensive patients indicated that dexmedetomidine pre-induction, in comparison to labetalol, led to a significantly more significant reduction of hypertensive and tachycardic reaction to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.

References

Lakhe G, Pradhan S, Dhakal S. Hemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Intubation Using Mccoy Laryngoscope: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of the Nepal Medical Association. 2021 Jun; 59(238): 554. doi: 10.31729/jnma.6752. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.6752

DeMasi SC, Casey JD, Semler MW. Evidence-Based Emergency Tracheal Intubation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2025 Jul; 211(7): 1156-64. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202411-2165CI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202411-2165CI

Stergiou GS, Palatini P, Parati G, O’Brien E, Januszewicz A, Lurbe E et al. 2021 European Society of Hypertension Practice Guidelines for Office and Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Measurement. Journal of Hypertension. 2021 Jul; 39(7): 1293-302. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002843. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002843

Suarez‐Roca H, Mamoun N, Sigurdson MI, Maixner W. Baroreceptor Modulation of the Cardiovascular System, Pain, Consciousness, and Cognition. Comprehensive Physiology. 2011 Jan; 11(2): 1373-423. doi: 10.1002/j.2040-4603.2021.tb00152.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2040-4603.2021.tb00152.x

Dangol S, Yadav RK, Bhatt P. Esmolol and Lidocaine in Blunting Hemodynamic Response to Extubation. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal. 2025 Jun; 21(2): 130-5. doi: 10.3126/jcmsn.v21i2.76102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v21i2.76102

Mathai C, Singh M, Abraham V. A Double Blind Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Labetalol and Esmolol in Low Doses in Attenuating the Hemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Intubation. Journal of Applied Dental and Medical Sciences. 2022; 8: 1.

Shetabi H, Nazemroaya B, Mahjobipoor H, Majidi S. Comparative Study of the Effect of Two Different Doses of Intravenous Labetalol on the Cardiovascular Response to Endotracheal Extubation. Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research. 2023 Jun; 15(2): 98. doi: 10.34172/jcvtr.2023.31623. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34172/jcvtr.2023.31623

Hu Y, Zhou H, Zhang H, Sui Y, Zhang Z, Zou Y et al. The Neuroprotective Effect of Dexmedetomidine and Its Mechanism. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022 Sep; 13: 965661. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.965661. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.965661

Tariq S, Yaqoob KM, Shahid A, Abid K, Haq MM. Comparison of Intravenous Lignocaine and Intravenous Dexmedetomidine for Attenuation of Hemodynamic Stress Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation. Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal. 2024 Aug; 74(4): 1138. doi: 10.51253/pafmj.v74i4.7000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v74i4.7000

Sadhukhan S, Sarkar M, Khanra M. Comparison Between Two Intravenous Doses of Dexmedetomidine in Attenuation of Hemodynamic Responses to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation. International Journal. 2022 Mar; 5(2): 994.

Neto MM, Paz MC, Crisóstomo AC, Rabelo IS, Luna BG, e Souza PF. Comparative Effects of Dexmedetomidine Versus Labetalol on Hemodynamic Stress Response to Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Trends in Anesthesia and Critical Care. 2025 Aug: 101588. doi: 10.1016/j.tacc.2025.101588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tacc.2025.101588

Fazal S, Iqtdar R, Shah I, Zia K, Ahmed A, Iqbal A et al. Comparing Dexmedetomidine with Labetalol for Haemodynamic Response to General Anaesthesia during Elective Cardiac Surgery at a Tertiary Care Hospital. Pakistan Heart Journal. 2025 Sep; 58(s2): 103-8. doi: 10.47144/phj.v58is2.3201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47144/phj.v58is2.3201

Carey RM, Moran AE, Whelton PK. Treatment of Hypertension: A Review. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2022 Nov; 328(18): 1849-61. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.19590. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.19590

Swargiri K, Padun J, Basumatary B, Manivasagam R. A Comparative Study to Determine the Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine 1mcg/kg and Labetalol 0.25 Mg/Kg in Attenuating the Hemodynamic Stress Responses to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation. African Journal of Biomedical Research. 2024 Nov; 27(3): 417-23. doi: 10.53555/AJBR.v27i3.2069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/AJBR.v27i3.2069

El-Shmaa NS and El-Baradey GF. The Efficacy of Labetalol vs Dexmedetomidine for Attenuation of Hemodynamic Stress Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 2016 Jun; 31: 267-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.01.037. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinane.2016.01.037

Sangeetha A and Saranya M. A Comparative Study of Dexmedetomidine and Labetalol for Attenuation of Hemodynamic Stress Response to Laryngoscopy and Intubation. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2021; 8(4): 86-93.

Ismail EA, Mostafa AA, Abdelatif MM. Attenuation of Hemodynamic Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation with Single Dose Dexmedetomidine in Controlled Hypertensive Patients: Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study. Ain-Shams Journal of Anesthesiology. 2022 Jul; 14(1). doi: 10.1186/s42077-022-00255-w. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42077-022-00255-w

De Cassai A, Boscolo A, Geraldini F, Zarantonello F, Pettenuzzo T, Pasin L et al. Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Hemodynamic Responses to Tracheal Intubation: A Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regression and Trial Sequential Analysis. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. 2021 Sep; 72: 110287. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110287. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110287

Jarineshin H, Baghaei AA, Fekrat F, Kargar A, Abdi N, Navabipour S et al. Comparison of Two Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine in Attenuating Cardiovascular Responses During Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation: A Double Blind, Randomized, Clinical Trial Study. Journal of Medicine and Life. 2015; 8(Spec Iss 4): 45.

Shah RM and Saba Ahad DS. Comparative Study of IV Dexmedetomidine and Lignocaine for Attenuation of Cardiovascular Stress Response to Laryngoscopy and Endotracheal Intubation. International Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research. 2025 Nov; 6: 1104-10.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-28
CITATION
DOI: 10.54393/pjhs.v7i2.3566
Published: 2026-02-28

How to Cite

Khalid, R., Afzal, F., Nayyar, S., Tariq, S., Ashfaq, S., Sabir, S., & Feroze, R. (2026). Comparison of Dexmedetomidine and Labetalol for Attenuating Stress Response in Hypertensive Patients: Dexmedetomidine and Labetalol for Attenuating Stress Response in Hypertensive Patients. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences, 7(2), 62–66. https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i2.3566

Issue

Section

Original Article

Plaudit

Most read articles by the same author(s)