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Abstract

Background: Patients with hypertension undergoing dental treatments necessitate meticulous monitoring due to the possible cardiovascular implications of local anaesthetics including vasoconstrictors. The objective of this study was to evaluate and quantify changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure within five minutes before and after administering a vasoconstrictor-containing local anaesthetic in hypertensive patients with stage 1 hypertension using standardized monitoring techniques. Methods: This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of local anaesthetic (2% lignocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine) on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals receiving dental treatment. The study was conducted from Mar to Sep 2024 at School of Dentistry, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, involved hypertensive patients (stage 1 hypertension, aged 30–60 years). Severe hypertension, co-morbidities, and being above the age of 60 were exclusion factors. A mercury sphygmomanometer was used to assess blood pressure five minutes before and after the administration of local anaesthetic. Data was analysed on SPSS-25, using paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-anaesthetic blood pressure readings. Results: The study analysed 62 individuals (mean age 49.83±7.12 years), with 36 (58%) men and 26 (42%) women. The mean pre-anaesthesia systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 135.57±3.98 mmHg, which decreased to 134.50±3.98 mmHg after anaesthesia, (p=0.000). Mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased from 85.85±4.15 to 84.57±4.03 mmHg (p=0.000). Conclusion: Study shows a clinically small but statistically significant drop in blood pressure in hypertensive individuals undergoing local anaesthesia during dental procedures.
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(3):54-7, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i3.1855