The Heart Rate Following Edrophonium-Atropine and Edrophonium-Glycopyrrolate Mixtures

Abstract

Comment

As expected, significant changes in heart rate can occur when edrophonium is combined with either atropine or glycopyrrolate. Although, in the majority of patients who undergo anesthesia, the moderate tachycardia or bradycardia that might occur with these solutions would not be clinically important, these arrhythmias may significantly affect the outcome of patients with borderline cardiac function. Therefore, the anesthesiologist should recognize the possible adverse effects of such drugs and drug combinations and monitor these patients carefully in the immediate postanesthetic period. Furthermore, depending on the patient's heart rate before administration of the drug, one might elect one combination over the other.