Objective: Currently, there are limited data on the effect of macrocirculatory hemodynamic changes on human microcirculation, especially during the induction of general anesthesia (GA).
Methods: We performed a non-randomized observational trial on patients receiving GA for elective surgery. In the control group (CG), for GA induction sufentanil, propofol, and rocuronium was administered. Patients assigned to the esketamine group (EG) received additional esketamine for GA induction. Invasive blood pressure (IBP) and pulse contour cardiac output (CO) measurement were performed continuously. Microcirculation was assessed using cutaneous Laser Doppler Flowmetry (forehead and sternum LDF), peripheral and central Capillary Refill Time (pCRT, cCRT), as well as brachial temperature gradient (Tskin-diff) at baseline, 5, 10 and 15 minutes after induction of GA.
Results: 42 patients were included in the analysis (CG n = 22, EG n = 20). pCRT, cCRT, Tskin-diff, forehead and sternum LDF decreased following GA induction in both groups. IBP and CO were significantly more stable in esketamine group. However, the changes in the microcirculatory parameters were not significantly different between the groups.
Conclusions: The addition of esketamine for GA induction warranted better hemodynamic stability for the first five minutes, but had no significant effect on any of the cutaneous microcirculatory parameters measured.
Keywords: Microcirculation; capillary refill time; esketamine; hemodynamic coherence; induction; laser doppler flowmetry; pulse contour analysis.