title: Haemodynamic differences between pancuronium and vecuronium in an experimental pig model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare baseline cardiovascular function in anesthetised pigs using either pancuronium or vecuronium as a neuromuscular blocker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, non-randomized comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Norwegian Land Race pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) weighing mean 42 ± SD 3 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixteen animals from four different research protocols premedicated with identical doses of ketamine, diazepam, atropine and isoflurane, and anaesthetised with pentobarbital, fentanyl, midazolam and N(2)O were arranged into three uniform groups with respect to neuromuscular blocking agent: pancuronium bolus of 0.063 mg kg(-1) followed by 0.14 mg kg(-1) hour(-1) (n = 54), low-dose vecuronium 0.4 mg kg(-1) /0.2 mg kg(-1) hour(-1) (n = 29) and high-dose vecuronium 0.6 mg kg(-1) /0.3 mg kg(-1) hour(-1) (n = 33).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of cardiovascular parameters demonstrated no significant differences between groups. For heart rate, there was an overall group difference, p = 0.036. Dromotropy was low in the pancuronium group, with an increased normalised PR-interval compared to the high-dose vecuronium group, median 0.200 interquartile range (0.190, 0.215) versus 0.182 (0.166, 0.199), p < 0.05. Left ventricular compliance was increased in pancuronium-treated animals, demonstrated as a reduction in the nonlinear end-diastolic pressure volume relationship β compared to both vecuronium groups, 0.021 (0.016, 0.025) versus 0.031 (0.025, 0.046) and 0.031 (0.022, 0.048), p < 0.05. The linear end-diastolic pressure volume relationship EDPVR(lin) was reduced as well in the pancuronium group, compared to the low-dose vecuronium group, 0.131 (0.116, 0.169) versus 0.181 (0.148, 0.247), p < 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are only minor haemodynamic differences when using pancuronium compared to vecuronium in the fentanyl-pentobarbital-midazolam-N(2)O anesthetised domestic pigs. Furthermore, increasing doses of vecuronium have minimal haemodynamic effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experimental studies in pigs using either pancuronium or vecuronium as a neuromuscular blocking agent are comparable with regard to cardiac and haemodynamic performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grong
authors.forename: Pirjo-Riitta
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Lodve
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stangeland
authors.forename: Geir O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Dahle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium
keywords: cardiovascular; haemodynamic effects; neuromuscular blockers; pancuronium; pigs; vecuronium