title: Effect of different doses of cisatracurium on intraocular pressure in sedated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to examine the course of intraocular pressure after relaxation with different doses of cisatracurium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was carried out as a prospective, randomized double-blind study in a crossover design in 30 postoperative patients with stable haemodynamic and respiratory function (ASA I and II). To exclude any disrupting factors, patients remained intubated and continuously sedated. Twenty patients received an intubation dose (2 x ED95) of cisatracurium (0.1 mg kg(-1)) compared with atracurium (0.5 mg kg(-1)). In a second series, 10 patients were given an effective dose, ED95 (0.05 mg kg(-1)), and a repeat dose (0.02 mg kg(-1)) of cisatracurium. The intraocular pressure was determined before (T0) as well as 1 (T1), 5 (T5), 10 (T10), 15 (T15), 20 (T20) and 45 (T45) min after bolus administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraocular pressure decreased after an intubation dose of either cisatracurium or atracurium, and reached a minimum after 10 min (6.7 +/- 2.2 and 7.9 +/- 2.1 mmHg, respectively). There was no significant difference between either muscle relaxant (P = 0.27). When lower doses of cisatracurium (0.05 and 0.02 mg kg(-1)) were applied, the intraocular pressure also decreased, albeit to a lesser extent and with a delayed onset (8.4 +/- 1.9 mmHg after 10 min, 9.9 +/- 3.4 mmHg after 15 min). There was no significant difference between dosages (p = 0.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cisatracurium is a useful drug in patients when a decrease of intraocular pressure is wanted and where muscle relaxation is necessary and acceptable.
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Department of Anaesthesiology and General Intensive Care (B), Austria.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sator-Katzenschlager
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Oehmke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kontaratos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wedrich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weinstabl
mesh_terms: D001279:Atracurium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D001279:Atracurium; C101584:cisatracurium; D010100:Oxygen