[The effect of atropine, fentanyl and alfentanyl on cardiocirculatory parameters and thoracic rigidity in the induction phase of intubation anesthesia].

Fentanyl and alfentanil may cause bradycardia if used in combination with succinylcholine during induction of anaesthesia. We therefore studied the influence of atropine, fentanyl and alfentanil on the haemodynamics of 90 urological patients (ASA I, II), who were allocated at random to six groups containing 15 patients each. Induction of anaesthesia was carried out using atropine 0.01 mg/kg-1, fentanyl 0.15 mg or alfentanil 1.5 mg depending on the assigned group: I atropine + fentanyl, II: atropine + alfentanil, III: fentanyl, IV: alfentanil, V: control (no atropine, no analgetic), VI: atropine. Following 2 mg alcuronium and thiopentone 4 mg/kg-1 intubation was performed with 2 mg/kg-1 succinylcholine. Atropine in combination with fentanyl caused a significant increase in heart rate following endotracheal intubation (p less than 0.05). Arrhythmias occurred in the groups with atropine in 4 out of 45 cases, while a chest wall rigidity was not influenced by atropine. Bradycardia occurred after fentanyl or alfentanil with atropine in the same frequency as without atropine. According to our results the routine use of atropine for induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone/fentanyl or alfentanil even in combination with succinylcholine is not required in ASA I or II patients.