No abstract

Enflurane was used in 150 non-selected patients and was found to be a most satisfactory inhalation anaesthetic. Induction and recovery times were rapid and these characteristics, together with its rather pleasant smell, made it readily acceptable to the patient. Although such features suggest that it would be an ideal agent for children, very high concentrations of enflurane were required to produce adequate anaesthesia in infants and small children. Normal sinus rhythm continued following the injection of adrenaline during enflurane anaesthesia and adequate muscle relaxation was obtained for lower abdominal surgery. The degree of metabolic breakdown of enflurane is considerably less than with other inhalation agents and, if this is reflected in terms of minimal renal and hepatic toxicity, there is every reason to believe that enflurane may be preferable to the volatile anaesthetics currently in use.

No abstract

Neuromuscular block was antagonized using pyridostigmine 250 micrograms kg-1 in two groups of 50 patients; one group received atropine 20 micrograms kg-1 and the other glycopyrrolate 10 micrograms kg-1 with the anticholinesterase drug. Atropine was associated with a greater initial tachycardia than was glycopyrrolate. The subsequent bradycardia was also greater in this group, although the decreases in heart rate were smaller than those generally observed following mixtures of atropine and neostigmine. Arrhythmias were transient and required no treatment in either group. Better control of secretions was achieved with glycopyrrolate.