A number of antihypertensive agents are available to treat perioperative hypertension. Labetalol is commonly used to treat hypertensive episodes in patients undergoing craniotomy, but may not be desirable in certain patient populations because of its low potency, a slow onset of peak effect (2), and unpredictability in dose requirements (3). Esmolol is only mildly effective in treating postoperative hypertension. Perioperative use is further complicated by bradycardia and conduction delay. Nicardipine is more effective than esmolol in controlling postoperative hypertension (4). However, it causes a dose-dependent cerebral vasodilation, inhibition of autoregulation, as well as a high incidence of hypotension (as compared to labetalol) (5). Hydralazine may increase intracranial pressure by as much as 100% and is rarely used as the sole agent in treating hypertension in neurosurgical patients (6).