Ketamine-pancuronium induction in patients with aortic stenosis.

In 15 patients with severe aortic stenosis who were to undergo aortic valve replacement, the induction sequence ketamine followed by pancuronium caused a 25% rise in systolic blood pressure. In a similar series, the induction sequence diazepam + morphine followed by pancuronium caused a 22% fall in systolic blood pressure. This shows that the blood pressure rise caused by ketamine is not blocked by pancuronium, although pancuronium may possibly modify the cardiovascular responses to this drug.