Haemodynamic responses to antagonism of tubocurarine block with atropine-neostigmine mixture in children

Abstract

Following antagonsim of tubocurarine block with a mixture of atropine 20 μg/kg and neostigmine 50 μg/kg in 20 children, heart rate decreased from a control value of 110.4 beat/min to 90.1 at 5 min and 89.2 at 6 min (P<0.02). Stroke volume index did not change during the first 5 min from a control value of 36.3 ml. beat-1. m-2 but a significant increase to 48 ml. beat-1.m-2 was observed at the 6th and 7th mins following the injection of the mixture (P<0.05). Cardiac index and mean arterial pressure remained unaltered throughout the period of observation. Normal sinus rhythm was maintained in all patients. It was concluded that antagonism of tubocurarine with an atropineneostigmine mixture does not produce any important haemodynamic change in children. © 1977 Copyright: Macmillan Journals Ltd.