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A comparison of the effect of rocuronium and vecuronium on heart rate during gynaecological laparoscopy
Author(s) -
Harvey A.,
Anderson L.,
Broome I. J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.01076.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rocuronium , bradycardia , asystole , anesthesia , heart rate , muscle relaxant , rocuronium bromide , vecuronium bromide , propofol , blood pressure
The effect on intra‐operative heart rate of two nondepolarising muscle relaxants, rocuronium and vecuronium, was compared in 116 fit out‐patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopic procedures. Both groups received an anaesthetic technique which differed only in the choice of muscle relaxant. Intra‐operatively it was noted that patients given rocuronium (20 mg) had significantly fewer episodes of bradycardia (heart rate < 50 beat.min −1 ) than patients given vecuronium 4 mg (p < 0.05). Profound bradycardias (heart rate < 30 beat.min −1 ) did not occur in any of the patients in the rocuronium study group, whereas 5% of patients receiving vecuronium had a period of transient asystole. We conclude that, at the doses stated, rocuronium results in significantly fewer episodes of bradycardia than vecuronium when used as a muscle relaxant for laparoscopic gynaecological procedures.