Comparison of the effects of atropine and glycopyrrolate on pulmonary mechanics in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

The effects of atropine and glycopyrrolate on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in one second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow (PFL) were compared in 44 patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Both anticholinergic agents improved pulmonary function equally before general anesthesia, but in both groups there was a small and again equal deterioration in pulmonary function after the procedure. The protective effects of the two drugs were not significantly different. Because of the lower incidence of undesirable side effects, glycopyrrolate is recommended as the anticholinergic agent of choice for bronchoscopy.