CARDIOVASCULAR CHANGES DURING INDUCTION OF ANESTHESIA - INFLUENCE OF 3 ANTICHOLINERGIC PREMEDICANTS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (6) , 463-469
Abstract
The effects on cardiovascular changes during induction of anesthesia and intubation of routine premedication with 3 different anticholinergic drugs, atropine, hyoscine and glycopyrronium, were compared in a double blind trial. Administration of both atropine and hyoscine i.m. or orally was associated with a high incidence of arrhythmias. With glycopyrronium the incidence was much lower, but control patients receiving no anticholinergic premedication had no arrhythmias. The heart rates and blood pressures were similar in all the groups during intubation and cuff inflation. A single dose of suxamethonium was not associated with any bradycardia. The need for routine anticholinergic drug administration should be reconsidered. Glycopyrronium appears to have an obvious advantage over atropine and hyoscine.