Laparoscopic cholecystectomies have adverse haemodynamic effects which limit their use in risk patients with heart disease. This applies in particular to significant hypertension. The etiology is analysed in detail in a review of the literature. The authors confirmed in their work involving 21 patients the incidence of these effects and tried to suppress them by premedication with clonidine (CATAPRESAN, Boehringer). 21 patients were given 0.15 mg clonidine in an infusion 15 minutes before operation and 21 patients 0.15 mg clonidine by the i.m. route 60 – 90 min. before operation. Standard anaesthesia was administered. A highly significant drop in the incidence of hypertension was recorded during operation for systolic pressure (p < 0.001) after both ways of administration , as well as of diastolic pressure (p < 0.01 for intravenous and p < 0.05 for intramuscular premedication). Premedication with intravenous clonidine can be recommended as a routine procedure before laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

        Key words: laparoscopic cholecystectomy – hypertensive reaction – premedication – clonidine