[Intracranial pressure response during secretion aspiration after administration of a muscle relaxant].
Aspiration of secretions is a usual nursing technique in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation that may be the cause of increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP).


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to evaluate the repercussion of a muscle relaxant on ICP with secretion aspiration.


METHODS
Clinical trial using the same patient as case and control, performing two endotracheal aspirations in each patients, on of them after administration of a muscle relaxant (Cis-Atracurium) and another no. The bolus administration of the relaxant in the first or second aspiration was done randomly. Thirteen patients with intraparenchymatous ICP measurement catheter were studied within the first 36 hours post-placement and with sedoanalgesia for a score of 6 on the Ramsay scale. ICP and CPP were measured before, during and after each aspiration.


METHODS
SPSS 11.0 program was used. Data analysis by Student's t test for paired data. Statistical significance level accepted was 95%.


RESULTS
On comparing the cases in which muscle relaxant was administered with those in which it was not administered, statistically significant differences were found in the ICP and CCP values during secretion aspiration.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the data obtained in the study, a lower increase of ICP was observed during secretion aspiration in those cases in which muscle relaxant was administered prior to the aspiration.
Chivite Fernández
Nuria
N
DUE, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. nuchivi@yahoo.es
Martínez Oroz
Amparo
A
Marraco Bonmcompte
Mercedes
M
Navarro García
Miguel Angel
MA
Nuin
E Salvador
ES
Gómez de Segura Nieva
José Luis
JL
Bermejo Fraile
Begoña
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001279:Atracurium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology; D002404:Catheterization; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D001279:Atracurium; C101584:cisatracurium