THE EFFECT OF ALCURONIUM AND TUBOCURARINE ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE: A CLINICAL COMPARISON

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Abstract
The effects of alcuronium (0.15 and 0.3 mg/kg) and tubocurarine (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg) on arterial pressure and heart rate and rhythm have been compared in forty patients during nitrous oxide, oxygen and pethidine anaesthesia and in twenty patients during nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane anaesthesia, prior to surgery. When halothane was used only the smaller doses of relaxants were given. Patients were divided into six homologous groups of ten patients. Both relaxants caused a fall in arterial pressure which was more pronounced during halothane anaesthesia. The fall in pressure was equal in degree after both relaxants but the period of maximum lowering was different, being 3–5 minutes after alcronium and 10–15 minutes after tubocurarine. This difference might be explained by the tubocurarine-induced initial rise in blood pressure which was probably due to pain from venous irritation. Alcuronium had a slight tachycardic effect which was more pronounced during halothance anaesthesia. No e.c.g. changes were seen.

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