Pancuronium, vecuronium, and heart rate during anesthesia for aortocoronary bypass operations.

To determine the effects of pancuronium and vecuronium on heart rate, 90 patients scheduled for aortocoronary bypass were randomly assigned to one of three groups (30 patients each) which received vecuronium 100 micrograms[sdot]kg-1, pancuronium 100 micrograms[sdot]kg-1, or a mixture of vecuronium (50 micrograms[sdot]kg-1) and pancuronium (50 micrograms[dot]kg-1) in a double-blind fashion during induction of anesthesia. All patients were premedicated with lorazepam prior to surgery, hence avoiding the effects of scopolamine. Our results showed no significant increase in heart rate from the administration of pancuronium, following administration of this drug the heart rate increased by only four beats per minute.

The accuracy of rapid oscillometric blood pressure determination.

The Dinamap 1846SX (DIN) offers a "stat mode" (SM) for rapid repetitive blood pressure determinations, but its accuracy has not been reported. Thirty patients who required an intra-arterial catheter (IAC) for management of anesthesia underwent induction with concomitant noninvasive blood pressure measurement provided by a DIN set in SM. Computerized automated data acquisition recorded digital outputs from both monitors at the time of new SM readings.

Gastroesophageal reflux during anesthetic induction with thiopental and succinylcholine.

The effects of patient physiology and the prior administration of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant on the frequency of gastroesophageal reflux during induction with thiopental sodium and succinylcholine were investigated. Forty patients underwent anesthetic induction during continuous esophageal pH monitoring. Twenty patients had preoperative symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, and 20 asymptomatic patients served as controls.