Biomaterial Database

Evaluation of atracurium in anaesthetized man. 1981

J P Payne, and R Hughes

Atracurium is a potent competitive neuromuscular blocking agent in anesthetized man with no cardiovascular effects at doses required for paralysis. Endotracheal intubation can be accomplished after i.v. doses of 0.6 and 0.3 mg kg-1, within 1 and 2 min respectively. Paralysis is readily antagonized by neostigmine and is enhanced by halothane. The consistent response in terms of block and recovery which emerged when the drug was given as increments of 0.05 or 0.1 mg kg-1 indicates the absence of cumulative effects. The course of action of atracurium was appreciably shorter than that of other recognized competitive blocking agents. Doses of 0.3--0.6 mg kg-1 i.v. provided adequate relaxation during surgical intervention for 15--45 min; spontaneous recovery without the use of neostigmine was observed in some patients. In addition to the non-enzymic decomposition by "Hofmann Elimination", atracurium may also undergo an enzymic ester hydrolysis but, unlike suxamethonium, it may not be destroyed by pseudocholinesterase.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007442	Intubation, Intratracheal	A procedure involving placement of a tube into the trachea through the mouth or nose in order to provide a patient with oxygen and anesthesia.	Intubation, Endotracheal,Endotracheal Intubation,Endotracheal Intubations,Intratracheal Intubation,Intratracheal Intubations,Intubations, Endotracheal,Intubations, Intratracheal
D007546	Isoquinolines	A group of compounds with the heterocyclic ring structure of benzo(c)pyridine. The ring structure is characteristic of the group of opium alkaloids such as papaverine. (From Stedman, 25th ed)
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
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
D009126	Muscle Relaxation	That phase of a muscle twitch during which a muscle returns to a resting position.	Muscle Relaxations,Relaxation, Muscle,Relaxations, Muscle
D009466	Neuromuscular Blocking Agents	Drugs that interrupt transmission of nerve impulses at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. They can be of two types, competitive, stabilizing blockers (NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS) or noncompetitive, depolarizing agents (NEUROMUSCULAR DEPOLARIZING AGENTS). Both prevent acetylcholine from triggering the muscle contraction and they are used as anesthesia adjuvants, as relaxants during electroshock, in convulsive states, etc.	Neuromuscular Blocker,Neuromuscular Blocking Agent,Neuromuscular Blockers,Agent, Neuromuscular Blocking,Agents, Neuromuscular Blocking,Blocker, Neuromuscular,Blockers, Neuromuscular,Blocking Agent, Neuromuscular,Blocking Agents, Neuromuscular
D004334	Drug Administration Schedule	Time schedule for administration of a drug in order to achieve optimum effectiveness and convenience.	Administration Schedule, Drug,Administration Schedules, Drug,Drug Administration Schedules,Schedule, Drug Administration,Schedules, Drug Administration
D004341	Drug Evaluation	Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals.	Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation
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
D006439	Hemodynamics	The movement and the forces involved in the movement of the blood through the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.	Hemodynamic