Safety of Atracurium in diabetic patients needing emergency surgery

Abstract

The new relaxant drug atracurium (Tracrium) was tested in 60 severely diabetic Maltese patients needing emergency surgery. The age of this group was mostly over sixty and the type of diabetes was the N.LD. type. Surgery was absolutely indicated as an emergency to relieve an abdominal obstruction or to remove a gangrenous limb that was causing toxaemia and threatening life. From this study the author concludes that atracurium is useful as an intubation and maintenance agent in severely diabetic patients effecting a certain, safe and predictable neuro muscular block with minimal cardio vascular disturbance and lack of cumulation enabling reversal to occur spontaneously.