[Hemodynamic effects of etomidate in the child: a study of the dose-effect relation].

In order to determine haemodynamic effects of increasing etomidate dosage, 18 healthy anaesthetized children aged 3 to 8 years were randomly given etomidate as a bolus: 0.125 mg/kg (group I; n = 6), 0.25 mg/kg (group II; n = 6) or 0.5 mg/kg (group III; n = 6). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP). Doppler aortic flow (DAF) and equivalents for systolic index (SI) and systemic vascular resistances (SVR) variations after etomidate administration were compared. Spearman's rank correlation test shows a significant relationship between increasing etomidate dosage and both decreased SI and increased SVR. This suggests to decrease dosage when reducing SI is unlikely.