Hahm TS, Cho HS, Lee KH, Chung IS, Kim JA, Kim MH. Clonidine premedication prevents preoperative hypokalemia.
J Clin Anesth 2002;
14:6-9. [PMID:
11880014 DOI:
10.1016/s0952-8180(01)00342-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that clonidine premedication could prevent an increase of plasma epinephrine occurring as a result of anxiety, and a decrease of the serum potassium (K+) levels before the induction of anesthesia.
DESIGN
Randomized, double-blinded study.
SETTING
University Hospital of Seoul.
PATIENTS
44 ASA physical status I and II patients, aged 20 to 50 years, scheduled for knee, ear, or nose surgery.
INTERVENTION
44 patients were randomly allocated into one of two groups: 22 patients (clonidine group) received clonidine 300 microg orally at 120 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. The other 22 patients (control group) received a placebo.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
Anxiety level, serum K+, and plasma epinephrine were measured at an outpatient clinic, and immediately before the induction of anesthesia. There were no differences between groups in degree of anxiety experienced, serum K+, or plasma epinephrine levels as measured at the out-patient clinic. Immediately before the induction of anesthesia, the serum K+ levels of the clonidine group were higher than those of the control group (3.89 +/- 0.26 mEq/L vs. 3.50 +/- 0.36 mEq/L), and anxiety and plasma epinephrine levels of clonidine group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The frequency of hypokalemia (K+ < or = 3.5 mEq/L) of the clonidine group immediately before the induction of anesthesia was significantly lower than that of the control group (0% vs. 50%).
CONCLUSIONS
Clonidine premedication was effective in preventing hypokalemic episodes occurring before the induction of anesthesia.
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