Use of atracurium in caesarean section.

Following induction of anaesthesia with methohexitone, and tracheal intubation facilitated by suxamethonium, atracurium 0.3 mg kg-1 was administered to 53 patients undergoing Caesarean section. Surgical relaxation and cardiovascular stability were good. On completion of surgery, recovery from neuromuscular blockade occurred spontaneously in 45 patients and in the remaining eight patients, neostigmine and atropine produced rapid and effective antagonism. There was no evidence of recurarization in any patient. In the neonates there were no adverse effects on Apgar scores or on the time to sustained respiration attributable to the use of atracurium . The drug concentration in the umbilical vein measured in 15 patients indicated that atracurium did not cross the placenta in amounts likely to be of clinical significance.