Less Tachycardia in Adults when Using Atropine 0.9 mg Compared with 1.2 mg Plus Neostigmine 2.5 mg
Sirirat Tribuddharat MD*, Thepakorn Sathitkarnmanee MD*, Penvisa Naewthong BN*
Affiliation : * Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Objective : Compare the increase in heart rate in adults after 0.9 vs. 1.2 mg of atropine plus neostigmine 2.5 mg
as the non-depolarizing muscle relaxant reversal agent.
Material and Method: A randomized, double blind, controlled trial on 46 adults ASA I-II, undergoing elective
gynecological or general surgery with balanced general anesthesia was performed. The subjects were
randomized into two groups, After surgery, the study group received 0.9 mg of atropine, while the control
group received 1.2 mg of atropine. Both groups received 2.5 mg of neostigmine simultaneously.
Results : The heart rate and blood pressure were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min after
the injection. The increase in heart rate and blood pressure between the two groups were compared. The heart
rate (at 3, 4, 5, and 6 min) of patients in the study group increased significantly less than that of patients in the
control group. There was no significant difference in blood pressure between groups and no side effects
occurred.
Conclusion : The authors conclude that 0.9 mg of atropine with 2.5 mg neostigmine can be safely used as the
reversal agent for a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant, particularly in patients for whom any increase in heart
rate would be harmful.
Keywords : Agent, Atropine, Increase in Heart Rate, Reversal
