Cardiovascular changes after org NC 45 [vecuronium] and pancuronium during halothane anesthesia

ABSTRACT

The heart rate and arterial blood pressure were monitored after the administration of vecuronium and pancuronium in patients anesthetized with halothane while surgical stimulation was absent to compare the cardiovascular effects of the two drugs. This study was carried out on 28 patients, all of them were premedicated with 10 mg of diazepam pre-operatively. Induction, of anaesthesia was done using thiopental and the patient was intubated after the administration of succinylcholine. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen [73 L/min]. Ventilation was controlled to maintain normocarbia. ECG [Lead II] was monitored continuously, the heart rate and blood pressure were measured every two minutes. After 15 minutes of halothane anaesthesia, 0.1 mg/kg body weight of either vecuronium or pancuronium was administered as a bolus and the H.R. and BI. P. were measured every 2 minutes for another 10 minutes. Blood gas analysis was performed before the relaxant administration and at the end of the study period, then surgery was allowed to start. Patients were classified into 2 groups each contains 14 patients. Group I received vecuronium that produced insignificant cardiovascular effects while pancuronium given to patients in group II increases the heart rate significantly at different times of the study period whereas systolic and diastolic pressures showed insignificant increase