Edrophonium Antagonism of Pancuronium-induced Neuromuscular Blockade in Man

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Abstract
The ability of edrophonium to reverse the nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade produced by pancuronium was studied in 40 adult patients during light nitrous oxide-enflurane anesthesia. Antagonism of paralysis was attempted when the train-of-4 fade ratio had spontaneously recovered to various extents. Edrophonium was administered in incremental doses i.v. either until the fade ratio increased to 0.70 or more or until the total dose of drug amounted to 0.5 mg/kg. All patients who had spontaneous recovery of train-of-4 fade ratios to at least 0.10 had adequate reversal with edrophonium. When the train-of-4 count was 3 or fewer visible twitches, the response to edrophonium was unpredictable. No evidence of recurarization was seen.