RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Atracurium and intraocular pressure.
JF British Journal of Ophthalmology
JO Br J Ophthalmol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
SP 673
OP 675
DO 10.1136/bjo.69.9.673
VO 69
IS 9
A1 D F Murphy
A1 P Eustace
A1 A Unwin
A1 J B Magner
YR 1985
UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/69/9/673.abstract
AB The effect of atracurium on intraocular pressure was studied by comparing it with pancuronium in a randomised controlled trial. The intraocular pressure was measured in patients undergoing cataract surgery before administration of the muscle relaxant, at 1, 3, and 5 minutes after its administration, and at 1 minute after tracheal intubation. Atracurium was found to decrease intraocular pressure to a significantly greater degree than pancuronium. The intraocular pressure after tracheal intubation was found to be significantly higher than that measured immediately after induction of anaesthesia. The authors conclude that atracurium provides an acceptable alternative to pancuronium for ophthalmic surgery but does not overcome the ocular hypertensive effect of tracheal intubation.