DOSE-RELATED TACHYCARDIA INDUCED BY PANCURONIUM DURING BALANCED ANAESTHESIA WITH AND WITHOUT DROPERIDOL

Pancuronium 0·02– 0·08 mg kg^–1 induceda dose-related increase of heart rate in patients anaesthetizedwith nitrous oxide supplemented with either fentanyl 0. 003mg kg^–1 or fentanyl 0·. 003 mg kg^–1 plusdroperidol 0· 15 mg kg^–1. The tachycardia was moremarked following the administration of droperidol. ^*Present address: Drève Richelle, 13, 1410 Waterloo,Belgium.     

HAS DROPERIDOL AN ATROPINIC EFFECT?

The action of droperidol on the tachycardia produced by atropineand on the serum concentration of cholinesterases was observedduring balanced anaesthesia. Without atropine, the mean heartrates of patients who received fentanyl or fentanyl plus droperidolwere similar. Atropine increased heart rate only in the presenceof droperidol (P<0.001) (fentanyl v. fentanyl plus droperidol:(P<0.05). Droperidol inhibited serum cholinesterases (P<0.05);this effect was independent of atropine.     

Bile Acid Abnormalities and the Diagnosis of Cerebro-Hepato-Renal Syndrome (Zellweger Syndrome)

ABSTRACT. The Zellweger or cerebro-hepato-renal syndrome (CHRS) is a congenital disorder characterized by cerebral dysfunction, craniofacial dysmorphic features, transient cholestasis and renal cysts. Patients fail to thrive, and usually die in their first year of life. In some cases, a definite diagnosis on purely clinical signs might not be possible. Several biochemical abnormalities have been observed in these patients and some of them have been tested as diagnostic markers. The aim of this study is to evaluate bile acid metabolites as biochemical markers of the CHRS. From a study of 20 CHRS patients, we conclude that screening for the presence of coprostanic acids and the C-29 dicarboxylic bile acid in serum or urine is a reliable method for detection of CHRS and confirmation of the diagnosis.