Cigarette smoking and the haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation.

This study investigated the effects of smoking and gender on the haemodynamic response after tracheal intubation. Patients were assigned to one of four groups: female non-smokers, female smokers, male non-smokers and male smokers. After tracheal intubation, the highest mean (SD) increase in heart rate (30 (18) %) and rate-pressure product (40 (29) %) was seen in male smokers. The increases in heart rate and rate-pressure product in male smokers were significantly greater than those in female non-smokers, p < 0.05. The increase in rate-pressure product was significantly greater in male smokers than in male non-smokers, p = 0.022.