Atracrium
Trade name: Tracrium
Pregnancy: (Category C)
Action: muscle relaxant Uses:
• It
is used as an adjunct to general anesthesia or sedation in the intensive care
unit (ICU), to relax skeletal muscles, and to facilitate tracheal intubations
and mechanical ventilation.
Dose : intravenous injection: 0.3–0.6
mg/kg
Maintenance" intravenous
infusion" (0.3–0.6 mg/kg hour) Contraindications:
• Hypersensitive to atracurium, cisatracurium or benzenesulfonic
acid.
Side effects:
• Skin flushing, mild reduction in blood pressure, and difficulty
in breathing.
• Very rarely anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, can occur
when given with one or more anesthetic agents. There have been rare reports of
seizures (fits) in ICU patients who usually also had a medical condition that
makes them predisposed to having fits, e.g. head injury or brain disease.
Nursing
considerations:
• Always assess past history of surgeries and response to
anesthesia Assess past
history, allergies, and medications.
• Assess use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and opioids.
• Close and frequent observation of the patient and all body
systems monitor vital signs,
ABCs.
• Monitor for cardiovascular depression, respiratory depression,
and complications of anesthesia.
• Implement safety measures.
