Assessment of the anticonvulsant activity of propofol in comparison to diazepam in experimental epileptic status

The anticonvulsant properties of diazepam are well established. However, it is still uncertain if propofol has any influence on seizure activity. This investigation was performed to study the anticonvulsant activity of propofol compared with diazepam against experimental model of status of epilepticus induced by pentylenetetrazol [PTZ]. Statistically significant increase in the PTZ-induced seizure threshold was demonstrated for propofol [50 mg/kg] and diazepam [5 mg/kg] doses that produced level II sedation in mice. The increase in the minimum convulsant [MCD] of PTZ [20 mg/kg] was greater in diazepam treated group [250 mg/kg] versus 180 mg/kg in propofol group. EEG recording provided further support for the significant protection produced by the two agents against PTZ seizures. Also, it was observed that a single bolus injection of propofol suppressed paroxysmal electrical activity in PTZ seizures and also clinical manifestation for about 6-8 min. Diazepam presented the reappearance of critical signs and paroxysmal EEG patterns over 15 min observation period. It was concluded that characteristics of propofol make it a putative drug in the treatment of generalized epileptic status. It has a short half-life and can be given IV [properties of an ideal drug]. The risk of precipitation of epileptic seizures warrants consideration especially when planning anesthesia for epileptic patients

Experimental study of the effects of pipecuronium, atracurium and pancuronium on cardiovascular system

The present work was undertaken to study the effects of pipecuronium, atracurium and pancuronium on isolated perfused rabbit heart, isolated rabbit atrium and on carotid arterial blood pressure as well as ECG changes with each drug administration. The results demonstrated that pipecuronium in a dose of 100 mug/kg b. wt. had no significant effect on heart rate and carotid arterial blood pressure of anesthetized cat. Atracurium [150 mug/kg b. wt.] produced 7.5% increase in basal heart rate and short lasting drop of arterial blood pressure lasting for approximately 1-1.5 min. followed by rapid recovery. Pancuronium [100 mug/kg b. wt.] increased heart rate by about 15.5% [p <0.05] and long lasting hypotension lasted for approximately 4-5 min. With gradual recovery to the pre-injection level. Pipecuronium and pancuronium produced no change in isometric contraction of rabbit atria in concentration range [5-20 mug/ml]. However, atracurium in concentrations of 30, 60, 120 mug/ml produced dose-dependent increase in contraction of rabbit atria without any effect on heart rate. When the chronotropic effects of three drugs were investigated using acetylcholine as an agonist on isolated perfused rabbit heart, it was found that pancuronium, but not pipecuronium and atracurium, produced a significant degree of antagonism to the bradycardia produced by acetylcholine. It was concluded that pipecuronium appears to be a suitable replacement for pancuronium for the production of muscular relaxation of relatively long duration in patients in whom elevation of heart rate has to be avoided. Also, the vagolytic effects of pancuronium are desirable, especially when counter acting the bradycardiac tendency of large doses of fentanyl. And that the transient hemodynamic effect of atracurium is probably of little clinical significance in the healthy patient