Introduction: Residual neuromuscular blockade contributes to postoperative morbidity and mortality, and is more common with long-acting non-depolarising muscle relaxants (NDMRs) such as pancuronium [1]. This phenomenon may be a common occurrence in 'fast-track' managed cardiac patients administered long-acting NDMRs. We examine the usage of NDMRs in cardiac anaesthesia in the United Kingdom. Me...

The interaction of the steroid anaesthetic agent CT1341 with selected muscle relaxants and volatile agents has been investigated in man. In four patients the effect at the neuromuscular junction was examined. No effect was seen with CT1341 alone and there was no clinically significant interaction with tubocurarine, pancuronium or suxamethonium. A further forty patients in six groups were anaest...

The study was designed to determine whether the onset of action of pancuronium in infants and children could be accelerated by its administration in divided doses. Sixty paediatric patients (0-1 yr (n = 20); 1-3 yr (n = 20); 3-10 yr (n = 20)) were studied during nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane anaesthesia using train-of-four stimulation, and the results were compared with data obtained previousl...

The effects of bolus doses of phenoperidine 1-2 mg i.v. either alone, or combined with pancuronium 2-4 mg, were investigated in seven patients in traumatic coma. Phenoperidine alone significantly reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) by a mean (+/- SEM) of 13.2 (+/- 2.8) mm Hg. Overall there was no significant change in intracranial pressure (ICP) despite the decreases in MAP and, consequently, ...

We have compared the antagonism of neuromuscular block produced by pipecuronium with pancuronium in 80 anaesthetized surgical patients using mechanomyography and electromyography. Pancuronium 0.1 mg kg-1 or pipecuronium 0.07 mg kg-1 was given after induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular block was adjusted to 75% twitch depression at the time of antagonism. The following regimens were used: ...