Does nitrous oxide affect the hemodynamic effects of anesthesia induction with propofol?

Anesthesia was induced in 20 patients, ASA physical status I and II, with either propofol (2.5 mg.kg-1), vecuronium (100 micrograms.kg-1), and 100% oxygen (Group A), or with equal doses of propofol and vecuronium but with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen (Group B). All patients were premedicated with lorazepam 2 mg orally. In both groups systolic arterial pressure decreased after 3 minutes (P less than 0.05) due to decreases in cardiac output and stroke volume (P less than 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance in both groups did not change immediately after administration of propofol but increased (P less than 0.05) following intubation. Addition of nitrous oxide did not alter hemodynamic parameters associated with propofol induction.