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Experience with vecuroniurn during long‐lasting surgery
Author(s) -
Eriksson L. I.,
Staun P.,
Cederholm I.,
Lennmarken C.,
Löfström J. B.
Publication year - 1988
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 - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1988.tb02798.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , bolus (digestion) , adductor pollicis muscle , ulnar nerve , body weight , intubation , surgery , elbow
Our knowledge of the possible cumulative properties of vecuronium is limited. Previous studies have shown a tendency towards an increased duration of effect, a slightly prolonged recovery time, as well as an increased variation in duration of effect. We have studied 15 patients scheduled for middle‐ear surgery. During i.v. N 2 O‐O 2 anaesthesia the twitch response of the adductor pollicis muscle was recorded after supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. Prior to tracheal intubation a bolus dose of vecuronium was given (0.08 mg/kg body weight). During surgery supplementary doses of 0.02 mg/kg body weight were given at a train‐of‐four (TOF) ratio of 0.25. The duration of effect (DUR‐IT‐25) and recovery time from a TOF ratio of 0.10 to 0.25 (Recovery‐IT‐10–25) were recorded. When comparing 10 iteration doses, the mean DUR‐IT‐25 in the 15 patients studied showed only minor variations (n.s.). Each patient had a near constant interval between the iteration doses; however, a noteworthy variation between individuals was found. Recovery‐IT‐10–25 was 250 ± 80 (mean · s.d.) 240 ± 80 and 260 ± 80 s comparing the second, sixth and tenth iteration doses, respectively. In conclusion, the duration of effect vaned considerably between patients. Each patient showed, however, a near constant iteration interval and a recovery time with only small variations. This indicates that cumulation is unlikely to exist following repetitive administration of vecuronium of 0.02 mg/kg body weight.