Circulatory responses and halothane concentrations during gastric or gallbladder traction with and without neuromuscular blockade

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates did not change significantly and ventricular dysrhythmias did not occur during gastric or gallbladder traction in patients anesthetized with N2O halothane, with or without d tubocurarine or pancuronium neuromuscular blockade. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rates just before abdominal viscera traction were less (p<0.05) in patients paralyzed with d tubocurarine than with pancuronium despite similar arterial halothane concentrations. In contrast, these measurements in patients without neuromuscular blockade were similar to those during pancuronium paralysis despite significantly greater arterial halothane concentrations in the unparalyzed patients. The authors conclude that circulatory responses during gastric or gallbladder traction are clinically insignificant during N2O halothane administration, with or without d tubocurarine or pancuronium neuromuscular blockade. Intraoperative blood pressures and heart rates were influenced by the neuromuscular blocker chosen. Neuromuscular blockade permitted anesthetic maintenance with lower arterial halothane concentrations than when paralysis was not present.

Duke Scholars

Author Cecily Karen Peterson Medicine, General Internal Medicine