Atropine before Enflurane Anaesthesia: Effects on Cardiac Rhythm, Pulse Rate, Blood Pressure and Airway Secretion

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Abstract
The occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and changes in pulse rate and blood pressure during mask anesthesia with enflurane was investigated in 92 patients with special reference to the influence of atropine (0.01 mg/kg 5 min before anesthesia) and thiopental. The average duration of anesthesia was a little less than 1 h in all 4 groups. More than 5 ventricular extrasystoles occurred in 1 patient (38 min after atropine). Supraventricular (mainly nodal) arrhythmias were significantly (P < 0.005) more common in the atropine groups (15/45) than in the non-atropine (4/47). Following atropine, heart rate increased by .apprx. 25 beats/min, whereas only very slight increases were seen in the non-atropine groups. Blood pressure fell at the induction but was almost back to normal at the end of anesthesia. Blood pressure was unaffected by atropine. Slightly lower values of blood pressure were suggested in the thiopental groups, whereas thiopental did not modify cardiac rhythm or pulse rate. Suction of the pharynx was necessary in only 1 patient. Evidently routine administration of atropine before enflurane anesthesia with or without thiopental induction is not necessary.