Barrier pressure and muscle relaxants

1365-2044

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

The effects of pancuronium and vecuronium on the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure were studied in 24 healthy patients anaesthetised with 0.5% halothane in nitrous oxide and oxygen. Following pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg intravenously, there was a significant increase in barrier pressure from a control value of 2.0 (SEM 0.14) kPa to 3.0 (SEM 0.27) kPa 1 minute after injection (p 〈 0.05). This increase was sustained throughout the 15 minute period of recording and was accompanied by a significant increase in heart rate (p 〈 0.001). Following administration of vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg intravenously there was an initial modest, though not significant increase in barrier pressure. This increase was significant (p 〈 0.05) at 15 minutes. There were no cardiovascular changes following vecuronium.

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