Effects of ephedrine on the onset time of neuromuscular block and intubating conditions after cisatracurium: preliminary results.
We studied the effects of intravenous ephedrine on the onset time and the intubating conditions 2 min after a bolus dose of cisatracurium (0.15 mg kg-1). Thirty patients anaesthetized with sufentanil and propofol were randomly divided in 2 groups to receive either ephedrine (70 micrograms.kg-1) or saline, 5 s before propofol. Cisatracurium was administered after loss of consciousness. Neuromuscular block was assessed at the adductor pollicis using accelography. Tracheal intubation was performed 2 min after cisatracurium injection and rated as excellent, good, poor or bad. At intubation, neuromuscular block (% height of control T1) was greater in patients receiving ephedrine (36.1 +/- 25.8% vs 57.9 +/- 25.1%) (mean +/- SD). The frequency of excellent intubating conditions was higher after ephedrine (86.6%) than after saline (40.0%). The onset time of cisatracurium was shorter after ephedrine (167 +/- 64.8 s vs 234.9 +/- 63.1 s). Thus, a low dose of ephedrine given before induction of anaesthesia improves the intubating conditions 2 min after 0.15 mg kg-1 cisatracurium and this effect likely relates to a quicker onset of neuromuscular block.
Albert
F
F
University Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, CHR de la Citadelle, University Hospital, Liege, Belgium.
Hans
P
P
Bitar
Y
Y
Brichant
J F
JF
Dewandre
P Y
PY
Lamy
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D001279:Atracurium / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D015742:Propofol; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D001279:Atracurium; D004809:Ephedrine; C101584:cisatracurium; D015742:Propofol