Abstract

ARAGAO, Pedro Wanderley de; PRAZERES, João de Oliveira; ARAGAO, Vânia Maria de Farias  and  MARTINS, Carlos Alberto de Souza. Anesthesiologists’ blood pressure during surgical anesthetic procedures in the morning. Rev. Bras. Anestesiol. [online]. 2002, vol.52, n.5, pp. 591-600. ISSN 0034-7094.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-70942002000500010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Systemic arterial hypertension affects approximately 20% of the world population, depending on the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Stresses inherent to the anesthesiologist’s work might reflect in the cardiovascular system, influencing professional’s blood pressure. This study aimed at verifying whether the practice of anesthesia is a triggering factor for anesthesiologists’ blood pressure changes during surgical anesthetic procedures. METHODS: Participated in these study 10 anesthesiologists, each one inducing 10 spinal anesthesias for cesarean section. Blood pressure was measured in five different moments, in a total of 50 readings one each anesthesiologist. The first measure was recorded soon after the anesthesiologist’s arrival in the operating center and was called M1; the second, before lumbar puncture and was called M2; the third, immediately after needle removal from the puncture site and was called M3; the forth reading, M4, was obtained immediately after fetal extraction; and the last value, M5, at end of skin suture. RESULTS: There has been anesthesiologists’ blood pressure increase in moments M3 and M4. CONCLUSIONS: The anesthetic practice is responsible for significant changes in anesthesiologists’ blood pressure and is a direct function of moments of higher risk for the patient during surgical anesthetic procedures.

Keywords : ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES [Regional]; ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES [spinal block]; COMPLICATIONS [arterial hypertension]; EQUIPMENTS [mercury sphygmomanometer].