title: Prophylactic atropine administration attenuates the negative haemodynamic effects of induction of anaesthesia with propofol and high-dose remifentanil: A randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Induction of anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil often induces unwanted bradycardia and hypotension, raising concerns regarding tissue oxygenation. The electrophysiological cardiac effects of remifentanil can be reversed by atropine.
  
  
  
  To investigate if prophylactic administration of atropine can attenuate the negative haemodynamic effects of propofol and a high dose of remifentanil during induction of anaesthesia.
  
  
  
  A double-blind, randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  
  Single-centre, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.
  
  
  
  Sixty euvolaemic patients scheduled for surgery under general anaesthesia.
  
  
  
  Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with a target-controlled infusion of propofol with a target effect-site concentration (Ce) of 2.5 μg ml, remifentanil (target-controlled infusion), (Ce 8 ng ml) and cis-atracurium. Methylatropine (500 μg) or 0.9% saline was administered at immediately before induction of anaesthesia.
  
  
  
  The changes (Δ) in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), rate pressure product, cerebral tissue oxygenation and peripheral tissue oxygenation between induction of anaesthesia (T0) and 10 min later (T10).
  
  
  
  Atropine significantly attenuated the changes in the outcome measures between T0 and T10. Median (inter-quartile range) changes were MAP, Δ = -24 (-40 to -21) vs. Δ = -37 mmHg (-41 to -31) (P = 0.02); HR, Δ = 0 ± 13 vs. -19 ± 11 bpm (P < 0.01); CI, Δ = -0.4 ± 0.7 vs. -0.9 ± 0.6l min m (P < 0.01) and rate pressure product, Δ = -3241 (-5015 to -613) vs. Δ = -5712 mmHg min (-6715 to -3917) (P < 0.01). Cerebral tissue oxygenation and peripheral tissue oxygenation did not change in either group. Maximum HR after atropine was 102 (86 to 116) vs. 85 bpm (76 to 95).
  
  
  
  Administration of atropine, before induction of anaesthesia with propofol and high-dose remifentanil, can significantly reduce the decreases in HR, MAP and CI.
  
  
  
  Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01871922.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands (MP, TWLS, MIVDV, PLB, MMRFS, AFK), Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Maria Middelares Hospital (SA, AFK); and Department of Anesthesia, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium (MMRFS).
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poterman
authors.forename: Thomas W L
authors.initials: TWL
authors.lastname: Scheeren
authors.forename: Marieke I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: van der Velde
authors.forename: Pieter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Buisman
authors.forename: Silvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allaert
authors.forename: Michel M R F
authors.initials: MMRF
authors.lastname: Struys
authors.forename: Alain F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kalmar
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001285:Atropine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D065129:Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077208:Remifentanil
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010880:Piperidines; D001285:Atropine; D000077208:Remifentanil; D015742:Propofol