HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF ROCURONIUM DURING FENTANYL ANESTHESIA - COMPARISON WITH VECURONIUM

Haemodynamic variables were measured following administration of rocur onium 0.6 mg . kg-1 or vecuronium 0.08 mg . kg-1 (approximately equiva lent to 2 X ED95 doses) in patients anaesthetized with fentanyl 50 mug . kg-1 and scheduled to undergo elective coronary artery bypass graft ing. There were increases in stroke volume index (+15%) and cardiac in dex (+11%), and a decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (-25% ) following administration of rocuronium (P < 0.05). The changes in he art rate (+7%), mean arterial pressure (-5%), systemic vascular resist ance (-12%) and other measured or derived indices were insignificant I n comparison the administration of vecuronium was associated with decr eases in heart rate (-7%), mean pulmonary artery pressure (-17%), cent ral venous pressure (-15%) and the rate-pressure product (-9%) (P < 0. 05). 7 he changes in mean arterial pressure (-7%), cardiac index (-6%) and systemic vascular resistance (-8%) following vecuronium were insi gnificant. There were no differences in any of the variables between r ocuronium and vecuronium. The absolute values of all variables were, h owever, within acceptable clinical limits. There was no evidence of hi stamine release in any patient. The present study shows that rocuroniu m 0.6 mg . kg-1 is associated with changes of only small magnitude in haemodynamic variables.