Biomaterial Database

Neuromuscular effects of vecuronium (ORG NC45) in infants and children during N2O, halothane anesthesia. 1983

D M Fisher, and R D Miller

The authors determined the neuromuscular effects of vecuronium (ORG NC45, Norcuron) during anesthesia with nitrous oxide and 0.9 MAC halothane. To determine potency, they administered vecuronium (15, 20, or 25 micrograms/kg) to 18 infants (less than 1 year old) and 18 children (1-8 years old). They then compared these dose-response relationships with values obtained for adults (greater than 18 years old) under comparable anesthetic conditions. The ED50S (dose producing 50% depression of adductor pollicis twitch tension) of 16.5, 19.0, and 15.0 micrograms/kg for infants, children, and adults, respectively, did not differ significantly. To determine the time course of neuromuscular blockade, the authors administered vecuronium, 70 micrograms/kg, to six infants, six children, and six adults. Onset time (time to maximal effect) was shortest for infants (1.5 +/- 0.6 min, mean +/- SD) compared with that for children (2.4 +/- 1.4 min) and adults (2.9 +/- 0.2 min). Duration (time from injection to 90% recovery) was longest for infants (73 +/- 27 min) compared with that for children (35 +/- 6 min) and adults (53 +/- 21 min). The authors conclude that vecuronium can be used in infants and children in doses similar to those recommended for adults. The time interval for supplemental doses will be longest in infants and shortest in children.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009609	Nitrous Oxide	Nitrogen oxide (N2O). A colorless, odorless gas that is used as an anesthetic and analgesic. High concentrations cause a narcotic effect and may replace oxygen, causing death by asphyxia. It is also used as a food aerosol in the preparation of whipping cream.	Laughing Gas,Nitrogen Protoxide,Gas, Laughing,Oxide, Nitrous
D010197	Pancuronium	A bis-quaternary steroid that is a competitive nicotinic antagonist. As a neuromuscular blocking agent it is more potent than CURARE but has less effect on the circulatory system and on histamine release.	Pancuronium Bromide,Pancuronium Curamed,Pancuronium Organon,Pavulon,Bromide, Pancuronium
D010372	Pediatrics	A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence.
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003473	Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents	Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction without causing depolarization of the motor end plate. They prevent acetylcholine from triggering muscle contraction and are used as muscle relaxants during electroshock treatments, in convulsive states, and as anesthesia adjuvants.	Curare-Like Agents,Curariform Drugs,Muscle Relaxants, Non-Depolarizing,Neuromuscular Blocking Agents, Competitive,Nondepolarizing Blockers,Agents, Curare-Like,Agents, Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing,Blockers, Nondepolarizing,Curare Like Agents,Drugs, Curariform,Muscle Relaxants, Non Depolarizing,Non-Depolarizing Muscle Relaxants,Nondepolarizing Agents, Neuromuscular
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006221	Halothane	A nonflammable, halogenated, hydrocarbon anesthetic that provides relatively rapid induction with little or no excitement. Analgesia may not be adequate. NITROUS OXIDE is often given concomitantly. Because halothane may not produce sufficient muscle relaxation, supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents may be required. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p178)	1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-Chloro-2-Bromoethane,Fluothane,Ftorotan,Narcotan