Role of intraoperative betablocker for morbid obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery

Background: Postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting (PONV) and hypoxia are common in relation to laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Sympatholytic drugs might decrease the need for intravenous or inhalation anaesthetics and opioids and also decrease postoperative adverse events. Method: Sixty patients were included. Propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium were used for induction. Study groups were as follows; group E, esmolol infusion was added to sevoflurane and fentanyl, group N only sevoflurane and fentanyl was used during maintenance of anaesthesia. Patients were monitored during the intraoperative period and postoperatively for 24 h for analgesic requirements and PONV. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain was also assessed. Results: Analgesic and anaesthetic requirements were significantly lower in group E than in group N (P-value <0.05). VAS scores were significantly lower in group E than in group N (P-value <0.05). PONV incidence was significantly lower in group E than in group N (P-value <0.05). Heart rates and blood pressures were significantly lower in group E compared to group N (P-value <0.05) Conclusion: Using esmolol during anaesthetic maintenance of laparoscopic bariatric surgery significantly decreases anaesthetic and analgesic requirements, postoperative pain, PONV and postoperative hypoxia.