Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives Autonomic system changes during ERCP lead to increased blood pressure(BP) and heart rate (HR) and decrease in arterial O 2 saturation(SPO 2 ). This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the clonidine pre-medication effects on systolic BP, HR and SPO 2 during ERCP.   Methods This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 40 ERCP candidates. Patients were classified into two groups. The first group didn't receive any premediacation. The patients of second group were given 0.2 mg clonidine 2 hours before ERCP. BP, HR and SPO 2 of all patients were recorded before, during and after ERCP. The collected data were analyzed using chi-square, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA (P<0.05).   Results Age, sex, systolic BP, HR and SPO 2 values were identical in both groups before induction (P>0.05). Analysis of variance of systolic BP, HR and SPO 2 showed that SBP and HR changes were significantly lower in the clonidine group at different times (during and after endoscopy) {in the order P<0.004, P<0.017}, but no significant difference was observed in SPO2 changes in either groups. The amount of administered sodium thiopental had no significant difference in either groups.   Conclusion On the basis of this study, clonidine as an alpha-2 agonist can inhibit BP and HR increase during ERCP by decreasing sympathic discharge but does not decrease the need for sedative drugs.