Nalbuphine versus fentanyl to reduce blood pressure and heart rate changes during laryngoscopy and intubation

COMPARISON OF HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF NALBUPHINE VERSUS FENTANYL: A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLINDED INTERVENTIONAL STUDY IN PATIENTS ON CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS AT RAWALPINDI INSTITUTE OF CARDIOLOGY, RAWALPINDI

Phase 4 Interventional Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology · NCT07435337

This test sees if nalbuphine or fentanyl better prevents spikes in heart rate and blood pressure during intubation for people having cardiac surgery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment98 (estimated)
Ages40 Years to 60 Years
SexAll
SponsorRawalpindi Institute of Cardiology Academic / other
Locations1 site (Rawalpindi, Punjab Province)
Trial IDNCT07435337 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults scheduled for cardiac surgery will receive standard premedication and invasive monitoring including central venous and arterial lines, then be given either nalbuphine (0.2 mg/kg) or fentanyl (3 µg/kg) intravenously before induction with etomidate and muscle relaxation with atracurium. Endotracheal intubation will be performed under direct laryngoscopy and hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and arterial blood pressure) will be recorded continuously around the time of laryngoscopy and during the intraoperative period. Anesthesia will be maintained with sevoflurane and a continuous atracurium infusion while measurements are compared between the two opioid groups to determine which drug better blunts the laryngoscopic stress response. Standard exclusion criteria include asthma, significant renal or hepatic dysfunction, extreme obesity, pregnancy or lactation, and anticipated difficult or prolonged intubation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults ASA III weighing 40–70 kg who are scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and meet the trial's inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with pre-existing asthma, significant renal or hepatic dysfunction, extreme obesity, pregnancy or lactation, or anticipated difficult intubation are excluded and would not be expected to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred opioid could reduce dangerous blood pressure and heart rate spikes during intubation, improving hemodynamic stability and potentially lowering perioperative complications.

How similar studies have performed: Fentanyl and other opioids are well established to blunt laryngoscopy-induced hemodynamic responses, while nalbuphine has been less widely studied but some smaller trials suggest similar effects.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Weighing 40-70kg

  * ASA III of either sex
  * Undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Drug Allergy • Pre-existing Asthma • Renal or Hepatic dysfunction • Extreme obesity • Pregnant / lactating patients • Difficult intubation/prolonged intubation

Where this trial is running

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions LaryngoscopyHemodynamic ChangesLaryngoscopic stress response
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.