A Comparative Study of Preloading With Ringer’s Lactate and Intravenous Ephedrine for the Prevention of Hypotension Due to Propofol During Induction of General Anesthesia

Background Propofol-induced hypotension during induction of general anesthesia remains a significant clinical concern, especially in healthy individuals. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two prophylactic interventions, crystalloid preloading with Ringer's lactate and intravenous ephedrine, in maintaining hemodynamic stability during propofol induction in American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I adult patients. Methods A prospective, interventional comparative study was conducted on 40 ASA I adult patients undergoing elective surgeries under general anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received Ringer's lactate 10 mL/kg over 15 minutes prior to induction, while Group B received intravenous ephedrine 0.1 mg/kg one minute before induction. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP)) were recorded at baseline, post-intubation, and at three, five, and seven minutes post-intubation. Results Demographic characteristics were comparable between groups. HR remained similar throughout, with no statistically significant differences. Group A showed significantly higher SBP at post-intubation (P = 0.0194) and at three minutes (P = 0.0051) than Group B. DBP was also significantly higher in Group A at three minutes (P = 0.0392) and five minutes (P = 0.0288). MAP values showed no significant differences at any time point, although Group B had slightly higher values at five and seven minutes. Conclusion Both interventions were effective in maintaining hemodynamic stability. However, Ringer's lactate preloading showed more favorable SBP and DBP profiles in the early post-induction period, while ephedrine provided more consistent MAP trends without significant hypotension.