Effect of rocuronium on the heart rate and arterial blood pressure during combined general anaesthesia

INTRODUCTION: Additional mechanisms of neuromuscular blocking agents action create the haemodynamic condition during general anaesthesia. The aim was to investigate the effect of rocuronium on haemodynamic parameters during combined general anaesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in two groups: Group I underwent combined anaesthesia with rocuronium and Group II — combined anaesthesia without any muscle relaxants. Haemodynamic parameters: heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded before anaesthesia, at the end of rocuronium infusion, and after recovery from anaesthesia. RESULTS: In both groups, the values of the median heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure recorded before and after anaesthesia were similar and did not differ significantly. In Group I, significant reduction in heart rate in the end of rocuronium infusion [74 (61–103)], (p = 0.01) and after recovery from anesthesia [71 (53–100)], (p = 0.03), compared to the value before anesthesia [81 (56–104)], were demonstrated. Additionally, significant reduction in systolic [130 (96–169); 114 (92–144)], (p = 0.04), diastolic [80 (54–109); 73 (47–99)], (p = 0.01), and mean [95 (72–106); 85 (68–109)], (p = 0.02) arterial blood pressure in the end of rocuronium infusion were noticed. The values of systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure after recovery from anaesthesia significantly increased in relation to the values observed in the end of the rocuronium infusion [129 (96–181)], (p = 0.01); [78 (47–107)], (p = 0.03); [93 (63–107)], (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The vagolytic effect was not observed during general anaesthesia with rocuronium. The changes in heart rate and blood pressure were associated with the rocuronium infusion and were normalized after recovery from anaesthesia.