Correlation between heart rate variability and haemodynamic fluctuation during induction of general anaesthesia: comparison between linear and non‐linear analysis

Summary The objective of this study was to compare linear and non‐linear analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in terms of correlation with haemodynamic fluctuation during induction of general anaesthesia. Pre‐operatively, HRV was estimated by the MemCalc method in 114 patients scheduled for general anaesthesia. After anaesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium bromide, tracheal intubation was performed. Haemodynamic fluctuations during induction of anaesthesia were recorded and the correlation between pre‐operative HRV and haemodynamic fluctuation was examined using logistic regression analysis. As an index of non‐linear analysis of HRV, ultra short‐term entropy (UsEn) correlated better with blood pressure fluctuation than did the ratio of the power of low frequency component of HRV to that of high frequency component (LF/HF). In contrast, although LF/HF significantly correlated with heart rate increase caused by tracheal intubation, the correlation between UsEn and heart rate fluctuation was not significant.