Haemodynamic responses to antagonism of bocurarine block with atropine-neostigmine mixture in children.

Following antagonism of tubocurarine block with a mixture of atropine 20 microgram/kg and neostigmine 50 microgram/kg in 20 children, heart rate decreased from a control value of 110.4 beat/min to 90.1 at 5 min and 89.2 at 6 min (P less than 0.02). Stroke volume index did not change during the first 5 min from a control value of 36.3 ml. beat--1.m--2 but a significant increase to 48 ml. beat--1. m--2 was observed at the 6th and 7th mins following the injection of the mixture (P less than 0.05). Cardiac index and mean arterial pressure remained unaltered throughout the period of observation. Normal sinus rhythm was maintained in all patients. It was concluded that antagonism of tubocurarine with an atropine-neostigmine mixture does not produce any important haemodynamic change in children.