EFFECTS OF ROCURONIUM AND VECURONIUM ON INTRACRANIAL-PRESSURE, MEAN ARTERIAL-PRESSURE AND HEART-RATE IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS

We have evaluated the effects of a single bolus dose of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg(-1) (group 1, n = 10) or vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1) (group 2, n = 10) on intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cer ebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and heart rate (HR) in 20 neurosurgical patients undergoing mechanical ventilation of the lungs during contin uous sedation with sufentanil and midazolam. Before and after neuromus cular block using twice the ED,, of the blockers, ICP, MAP, CPP and HR were recorded continuously for 15 min. Treatment caused no significan t changes in ICP, CPP or MAP and there was no evidence of histamine re lease. Mean maximum block in the rocuronium group was slightly less th an that in the vecuronium group (95.9 (3.1)% vs 100%; ns) The differen ce between the two groups in onset time (rocuronium 142 (62) s, vecuro nium 192 (64) s; P = 0.04) was significant. Patients in the rocuronium group showed a slight (7 (4) %) but significant (P = 0.003) increase in heart rate.