DIABETIC AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY AND THE HEMODYNAMIC ACTIONS OF VECURONIUM AND PANCURONIUM DURING VITRECTOMY

In order to clarify whether autonomic neuropathy modifies the haemodyn amic effects of alfentanil, vecuronium and pancuronium, twenty-seven p atients with diabetes mellius were studied at thiopentone induction, a nd during nitrous oxide anaesthesia for ophthalmic vitreous surgery. H eart rate was lower in tile diabetic patients receiving vecuronium com pared with those receiving pancuronium, but no difference was seen in arterial pressure. During and after anaesthesia induction, the profile s of heart rate and arterial pressure resembled those found in healthy controls. Even in patients with advanced autonomic neuropathy anaesth etics may exert their inherent vagotonic or sympathicotonic actions.