Hemodynamic and pharmacodynamic comparison of doxacurium and pipecuronium with pancuronium during induction of cardiac anesthesia: does the benefit justify the cost?
We compared the pharmacodynamic effects and hospital costs of three long-acting neuromuscular blocking drugs in a prospective, randomized, double-blind manner. Each neuromuscular blocking drug was administered with fentanyl (50 micrograms/kg) for intravenous induction of anesthesia for coronary artery bypass surgery. Each patient received twice the 95% effective dose (ED95) of either pancuronium (0.14 mg/kg, n = 10), pipecuronium (0.10 mg/kg, n = 10), or doxacurium (0.05 mg/kg, n = 10). Hemodynamic measurements were recorded at baseline, 5 min after completion of anesthetic induction, immediately after endotracheal intubation, and 5 min after intubation. Only small hemodynamic differences between neuromuscular blocking drugs were observed. Doxacurium (but not pancuronium or pipecuronium) significantly decreased mean arterial blood pressure (from 94 +/- 4 mm Hg before induction to 83 +/- 3 mm Hg 5 min after intubation); nevertheless, there were no significant between-group differences at any time. Pancuronium increased heart rate (from 68 +/- 4 beats/min before induction to 76 +/- 5 beats/min 5 min after intubation); however, pancuronium differed significantly from doxacurium and pipecuronium only 5 min after induction and 5 min after intubation. Central venous pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, cardiac index, and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices did not change. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were observed in two pipecuronium patients: ST segment depression in one and premature ventricular contractions in another. No other electrocardiographic changes were observed. There were no significant between-group differences in the need for hemodynamic interventions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Department of Anesthesia, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
J P
JP
Rathmell
R F
RF
Brooker
R C
RC
Prielipp
J F
JF
Butterworth
G P
GP
Gravlee
D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017300:Pipecuronium / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D007546:Isoquinolines; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D017300:Pipecuronium; D010197:Pancuronium; C049429:doxacurium; D005283:Fentanyl