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Elderly coronary artery bypass graft patients with left ventricular dysfunction are hemodynamically stable after two

M Uyar1, F Z Askar, K Demirag

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Ege University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Insights

Rocuronium (2x to 3x the effective dose 95%) provides cardiovascular stability in elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with left ventricular dysfunction. Both doses showed similar hemodynamic profiles, indicating suitability for muscle relaxation in high-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Elderly patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) present unique anesthetic challenges.
  • Rocuronium is a commonly used neuromuscular blocking agent, but its hemodynamic effects in this specific patient population require clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the detailed hemodynamic responses to two different bolus doses of rocuronium (2x and 3x the 95% effective dose [ED95]) in elderly patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing elective CABG.
  • To compare the cardiovascular stability provided by these two rocuronium doses.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, randomized clinical study conducted at a university hospital.
  • Twenty elderly patients (age > 65) with coronary artery disease and left ventricular ejection fractions ≤ 40% were included.
  • Invasive cardiac monitoring was used to obtain detailed hemodynamic profiles before and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes after rocuronium injection.

Main Results:

  • Minor changes in measured hemodynamic variables were observed within both groups but did not reach statistical significance.
  • No statistically or clinically significant differences in hemodynamic variables were found between the 2x ED95 and 3x ED95 rocuronium groups at any time point.
  • One group exhibited higher baseline and subsequent mean arterial pressures.

Conclusions:

  • Bolus administration of rocuronium (2x to 3x ED95) combined with high-dose fentanyl ensures adequate cardiovascular stability in elderly CABG patients with left ventricular dysfunction.
  • The hemodynamic profiles of the two tested rocuronium doses were similar.
  • Rocuronium, at both evaluated doses, is a suitable muscle relaxant for patients requiring significant cardiovascular stability during surgery.
Abstract

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