[Atropine has little significance as a premedication for spinal anesthesia]

Intramuscular atropine 0.5 mg as an anticholinergic premedicant for spinal anesthesia was studied in 14 patients. Twelve patients of a control group did not receive atropine. No significant difference was found between the groups with regard to changes in blood pressure during spinal anesthesia whose analgesic level reached T4. A significant difference was found between the groups with regard to changes in heart rate during spinal anesthesia, but the incidence of bradycardia below 60 beats.min-1 was similar between the groups. Intramuscular atropine 0.5 mg as a premedicant offered little vagal blockade of the heart during spinal anesthesia.