Comparison Between Hemodynamic Changes of Atracurium and Cisatracurium in Patients Undergoing Cabg Surgery

Objective: To compare the hemodynamic effects of Atracurium versus Cisatracurium in Cardiac Patients Undergoing coronary artery bypass graft Surgery. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Rawalpindi, a tertiary care hospital, after seeking hospital ethics committee permission, from Apr 2019 to Oct 2019. Methodology: A total of 200 consecutive patients were randomized into two equal groups, group-A and group-C (100 in each group). Group-A patients were induced with 0.5mg/kg of Atracurium, followed by infusion @ 10μg/kg/min whereas group C patients received Cisatracurium @ 0.2mg/kg at induction, followed by infusion @ 2μg/kg/min during the maintainence phase. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were noted at different intervals of both groups. Decrease in systolic blood pressure of >20% from baseline or a value <90 mmHg was considered as hypotension. Results: The mean age of patients was 57.5 ± 6.75 years and 56.52 ± 4.46 years in group A and group C respectively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was better maintained with cisatracurium than atracurium. Also Mean arterial pressure remained more stable with cisatracurium (p<0.05), but after opening of sternum and before going on cardiopulmonary bypass, the difference was insignificant in both groups (p>0.05). Heart rate remained more steady with cisatracurium (p<0.05) but had insignificant difference before going on cardiopulmonary bypass (p>0.05). Conclusion: Cisatracurium found to be more suitable drug in maintaining the stable hemodynamics and preventing fluctuations in pressure in cardiac patients undergoing on-pump bypass surgery.