Sir,—We congratulate Drs Beetner, Bjorksten and Crankshaw on their description of the pharmacokinetics of atracurium [1]. As they observe correctly, the derivation of pharmacokinetic parameters after a single bolus dose is subject to difficulties because of the presumed degradation of atracurium in sites peripheral to the plasma. In our view, however, the crucial flaw in previous attempts to de...

One hundred and fifty-one cutaneous reactions occurred during 1200 anaesthetics in which atracurium was given. The majority occurred in females less than 70 years old. Bronchospasm and serious hypotension did not occur, and it is concluded that a history of allergic response or asthma is not a contraindication to the use of atracurium.

I.v. atracurium 0.3 mg kg-1 and suxamethonium 1.6 mg kg-1 plus infusion were compared for use in outpatient laparoscopy. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to receive one of the two blocking drugs. Both drugs proved suitable for use in outpatient laparoscopy, but atracurium may have advantages if the operation proceeds directly to laparotomy.

Atracurium was given to 30 patients with terminal chronic renal insufficiency, in two regimens. Group I (20 patients) received a single dose of 0.6 mg kg-1 and group II (10 patients), received one or several injections of 0.2 mg kg-1. Tracheal intubation was performed with ease in all patients 3 min after the injection of atracurium. A supramaximal stimulus was applied to the ulnar nerve at wri...

In this double-blind study, we have allocated randomly 40 ASA I-III patients to one of four groups. After a standard anaesthetic induction, patients received vecuronium 0.08 mg kg-1 or 0.10 mg kg-1, or atracurium 0.4 mg kg-1 or 0.5 mg kg-1. Using an electromyogram (Datex Relaxograph) the train-of-four (TOF) response was measured during onset of and recovery from neuromuscular block. A greater d...

We have developed and tested a system for providing automatic control of neuromuscular block with atracurium. The degree of neuromuscular block was monitored in the small muscles of the hand using a Datex Relaxograph, and the signal was used as the controlled variable for a proportional plus integral controller. A preloaded integral was used to shorten the period of stabilization. The system wa...

BACKGROUND Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMB) differ in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. An anesthesiologist according to these similarities and differences is able to choose the least costly one if the same safety profile and same clinical benefit achieved with the different alternatives. AIM The main objective of this study is to evaluate the economic and ad...

The mechanism of arterial hypotension induced by non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents may be multifactorial and differ between drugs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-dose atracurium and equivalent doses of other non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents on haemodynamic state and sympathetic nervous activity. In studies on 24 mongrel dogs anaesthetized...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with a median survival of about one year. This poor prognosis is attributed primarily to therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence after surgical removal, with the root cause suggested to be found in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a reporter of astrocytic...

Atracurium was administered to neonatal patients on 270 occasions without any difficulties being encountered. More detailed observations in 60 patients showed that, in 16 neonates 3 days of age and older, with a core temperature greater than 36 degrees C, the standard dose of atracurium 500 micrograms kg-1 had a mean duration of clinical effect of 23.1 +/- 3.4 min--the shortest in any group of ...