EVOLUTION OF VECURONIUM REQUIREMENTS FOR STABLE MECHANICAL EFFECT - COMPARISON WITH OR WITHOUT PREVIOUS SUCCINYLCHOLINE ADMINISTRATION

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (3) , 319-322
Abstract
To evaluate possible interactions between residual succinylcholine and vecuronium, the amount of vecuronium required to maintain the twitch height (TH) at 10% of its initial values was measured over a 90-min period by the on-demand infusion method in 2 series of 15 adult patients (ASA class I-II). One group, the vecuronium treatment (V) group, received 70 .mu.g.cntdot.kg-1 of vecuronium and the on-demand infusion. The 2nd group, the succinylcholine-vecuronium treatment group (SV), was given 30 .mu.g.cntdot.kg-1 of vecuronium and on-demand infusion 5 min after the complete recovery of TH after administration of 1 mg.cntdot.kg-1 of succinylcholine. During the first 10 min, the amount of vecuronium required to maintain TH at 10% of its control was significantly greater in the group given V than in the group given SV, 15122 .+-. 856 (mean .+-. SE) vs 9851 .+-. 486 .mu.g.cntdot.m-2.cntdot.h-1 (P < 0.001). Thereafter, the amount of vecuronium required to maintain TH at 10% of control was similar; 2808 .+-. 275 and 3068 .+-. 206 .mu.g.cntdot.m-2.cntdot.h-1. When the infusion of vecuronium was stopped after 90 min, the time required for spontaneous recovery from 25 to 75% of control TH levels was similar; 20.1 .+-. 3.3 min in the group given V and 18.9 .+-. 2.5 min in the group given SV (not significant). After a vecuronium on-demand infusion of long duration (lasting > 90 min), previous succinylcholine administration does not interfere with late vecuronium requirements and the spontaneous rate of recovery of TH.