title: A comparison of systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of d-tubocurarine, pancuronium, and vecuronium.
abstract: This study was designed to compare the effects of three neuromuscular blocking agents, in a clinically relevant dose range, on the regional distribution of blood flow measured with 15-microns radioactive microspheres in anesthetized, optimally ventilated cats. d-Tubocurarine (400, 800, and 1,600 micrograms X kg-1) caused hypotension and a decrease in ascending aortic blood flow. Pancuronium (20, 40, and 80 micrograms X kg-1) only caused a moderate tachycardia, while vecuronium (40, 80, and 160 micrograms X kg-1) was devoid of any systemic hemodynamic effect. Neither pancuronium nor vecuronium caused major changes in regional blood flows. On the other hand, d-tubocurarine increased blood flow to the stomach but decreased that to the kidneys, liver, skin, spleen, intestine, and adrenal glands. These effects of d-tubocurarine show a striking resemblance to those elicited by the infusion of histamine. Blood flow to the nerve-stimulated tibialis anterior muscle, which was about six times that of the unstimulated muscle, was decreased significantly by all three neuromuscular blockers. In conclusion, the results clearly show that, while d-tubocurarine produces major cardiovascular disturbances, pancuronium and, in particular, vecuronium do not cause serious changes in systemic and regional hemodynamics in doses that are two to four times the ED90 for neuromuscular blocking action.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide
chemical_list: D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium; D014403:Tubocurarine