Haemodynamic effects of atracurium in surgical patients under nitrous oxide, oxygen and isoflurane anaesthesia

The haemodynamic effects of atracurium were studied in 16 patients (ASA I and II) undergoing major surgical procedures under nitrous oxide, oxygen and isoflurane anaesthesia. Atracurium was administered in two doses 0.2 and 0.4 mg kg-1 in the presence of 1.25 MAC isoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen. There were no significant changes in mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance or central venous pressure with either dose. There were statistically significant alterations in heart rate and cardiac index at the 10-min observation in those patients receiving atracurium 0.4 mg kg-1. These changes were deemed to be clinically unimportant in this group of patients. There was no indication of histamine release manifested in the form of allergic reaction or decrease in systemic resistance. It is concluded that those two doses of atracurium have no untoward side-effects on cardiovascular performance at least in this group of healthy patients.