Onset and duration of action of vecuronium in the elderly: comparison with adults

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Abstract
The onset and duration of action of vecuronium were studied in young adult (n = 30; mean age 34 ± 11.1 (s.d.) yr), middle‐aged (n = 20; mean age 60 ± 5.8 yr) and elderly patients (n = 30; mean age 80 ± 4.6 yr) anaesthetised with thiopentone, nitrous oxide in oxygen and halothane. Neuromuscular block was monitored by applying the train‐of‐four (TOF) stimulation at 2 Hz to the ulnar nerve every 12 s. Half the patients in each group received 0.08 and the other half 0.12 mg kg‐1 of the relaxant. The time to return of T1 (first response in the TOF sequence) to 25% of control was 28 ± 5.2 (s.d.), 34 ± 7.1 and 39 ± 10.2 min following 0.08 mg kg‐1 dose (P‐1 dose, respectively, in the three age groups (P‐1 was 9.6 ± 3.4, 13.6 ± 5.1 and 17.4 ± 6.1 min, respectively (PP<0.05) of these parameters in the elderly.