COMPARISON OF LARGE DOSE OF VECURONIUM WITH PANCURONIUM FOR PROLONGED NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE

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Abstract
Dose-duration relationships for vecuronium were determined and the duration of action produced by vecuronium 0.3 mg kg−1 shown to equal that of pancuronium 0.1 mg kg−1. Using these doses, the neuromuscular blocking properties and cardiovascular effects of the two drugs were compared. With large dose administration of vecuronium (0.3 mg kg−1), both the onset time (mean 81 s) and the 25–75% recovery index (mean 13.9 min) were about one-half those associated with pancuronium (means 168.5 s and 29.3 min, respectively). The duration of action until 25% recovery was similar with both drugs. There was no evidence of cardiovascular instability with the large dose of vecuronium. Heart rate, however, was significantly slower (range 89.7–94.2% of control) 2–20 min after the injection of vecuronium. Vecuronium 0.3 mg kg−1 may have more favourable neuromuscular blocking effects than pancuronium 0.1 mg kg−1 and may be preferable to pancuronium when prolonged neuromuscular blockade is required.

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