1997 Volume 57 Issue 6 Pages 516-520
Effects of pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide used during induction of anesthesia on cardiovascular response were studied in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, diazepam, and either pancuronium bromide (PCB group) or vecuronium bromide (VCB group) administered in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Control values were measured before induction of anesthesia. Cardiovascular variables were measured 3 and 10 minutes after tracheal intubation. Heart rate and systemic arterial pressure after tracheal intubation in the PCB group were not significantly different from control values ; however, in the VCB group, both parameters decreased significantly after tracheal intubation. Cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, and rate-pressure products decreased significantly owing to the induction of anesthesia in both groups. Only heart rate measurements differed significantly between the two groups. The findings in the present study suggest that with regard to heart rate pancuronium bromide is more advantageous than is vecuronium bromide for use as a muscle relaxant during induction of fentanyl anesthesia for valve replacement surgery.
