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Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of atracurium, laudanosine and vecuronium following clinical subarachnoid hemorrhage
Author(s) -
Tassonyi E.,
Fathi M.,
Hughes G. J.,
Chiodini F.,
Bertrand D.,
Muller D.,
FuchsBuder T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2002.461011.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , anesthesia , subarachnoid hemorrhage , atracurium besilate , vecuronium bromide , metabolite , neuromuscular blockade
Background: Neuromuscular blocking agents may exert central nervous system effects when they reach the brain. This study assessed the concentrations and the time course of passage of vecuronium, atracurium, and its metabolite laudanosine in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm clipping. Methods: Twenty‐five patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage were randomly allocated to receive an intravenous infusion of vecuronium (n=13) or atracurium (n=12). Arterial blood and lumbar CSF were sampled before and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 h after the start of the relaxant infusion. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (vecuronium) and high‐pressure liquid chromatography (atracurium and laudanosine). Results: The data of 20 patients (10 in both groups) were analyzed. In 11 CSF samples from five patients atracurium was detected in concentrations from 10 to 50 ng/ml. Laudanosine was retrieved in all CSF samples at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 h; the highest CSF concentration of laudanosine occurred at 3 h [38 (18–63) ng/ml: median (range)]. Vecuronium was not found in any CSF sample. Conclusion: Significant concentrations of atracurium and laudanosine but not of vecuronium were detected in the CSF of patients during and immediately after intracranial aneurysm surgery .