Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
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J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Jul 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialClonidine premedication for craniotomy: effects on blood pressure and thiopentone dosage.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral clonidine premedication improves cardiovascular stability and/or reduces the requirements for drugs used to control systolic blood pressure (SBP) during elective craniotomies. We performed a double blind randomized trial involving 77 normotensive, ASA physical status I or II adults. Clonidine 4 micrograms/kg or placebo was given as oral premedication. ⋯ Two subgroups were analyzed, based on the study groups mean age and baseline SBP. Three-way analysis of variance revealed that the blood pressure effects of clonidine were almost entirely confined to patients older than 45 years. Baseline SBP had no independent effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)