Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D E Rowlands.
One hundred and fifty-one cutaneous reactions occurred during 1200 anaesthetics in which atracurium was given. The majority occurred in females less than 70 years old. Bronchospasm and serious hypotension did not occur, and it is concluded that a history of allergic response or asthma is not a contraindication to the use of atracurium.
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Details are given of 25 severely ill patients in whom atracurium was used to produce neuromuscular blockade. In view of the good operating conditions and absence of effects on the cardiovascular system it is concluded that atracurium is an excellent nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent for use in the severely ill, and the elderly.
Atracurium was used on 250 occasions under normal operating conditions in patients between the ages of 18 and 86 yr; 97 patients were aged 65 yr and over, 47 were ASA Grade III, 15 were Grade IV and three were Grade V. Provided that a dose of 0.5-0.6 mgkg-1 was used, intubation was carried out in 1.5 min in 82% of patients. Good operating conditions were obtained in all patients and no complications could be attributed to atracurium even in patients giving a history of allergy or asthma. Residual blockade could be adequately antagonized and recurarization did not occur.
The clinical use of the neuromuscular blocking agent fazadinium was investigated in a survey of 500 patients. Rapid conditions for tracheal intubation followed by excellent relaxation and easy antagonism were obtained. It is suggested that these findings commend it as an alternative to suxamethonium. Tachycardia appeared to be the only disadvantage associated with its use.