Biomaterial Database

Prolonged neuromuscular blockade in two critically ill patients treated with atracurium. 1995

L L Hoey, and S M Joslin, and A Nahum, and K Vance-Bryan

College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.

Recent literature suggests that the risk of prolonged neuromuscular blockade associated with atracurium compared with other nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents may be minimal. Two patients experienced prolonged weakness associated with the administration of atracurium. Both received atracurium 0.5-0.7 mg/kg/hour in combination with methylprednisolone 500-600 mg/day. Electromyographic results and creatine kinase levels were suggestive of muscular weakness in both patients. Despite high-dose corticosteroid therapy, the electromyographic evidence supporting prolonged weakness did not suggest typical corticosteroid myopathy. Although some clinicians advocate routine administration of atracurium in critically ill patients due to the relative lack of reports of prolonged weakness, this may be premature. Although there are fewer reports of atracurium-associated prolonged weakness compared with pancuronium and vecuronium, the patients we describe suggest that it may occur.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
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
D008775	Methylprednisolone	A PREDNISOLONE derivative with similar anti-inflammatory action.	6-Methylprednisolone,Medrol,Metipred,Urbason,6 Methylprednisolone
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009123	Muscle Hypotonia	A diminution of the skeletal muscle tone marked by a diminished resistance to passive stretching.	Flaccid Muscle Tone,Hypotonia,Decreased Muscle Tone,Floppy Muscles,Hypomyotonia,Hypotony, Muscle,Muscle Flaccidity,Muscle Tone Atonic,Muscle Tone Poor,Muscular Flaccidity,Muscular Hypotonia,Neonatal Hypotonia,Unilateral Hypotonia,Flaccidity, Muscle,Flaccidity, Muscular,Floppy Muscle,Hypotonia, Muscle,Hypotonia, Muscular,Hypotonia, Neonatal,Hypotonia, Unilateral,Hypotonias, Neonatal,Hypotonias, Unilateral,Muscle Hypotony,Muscle Tone Atonics,Muscle Tone, Decreased,Muscle Tone, Flaccid,Muscle, Floppy,Muscles, Floppy,Muscular Flaccidities,Neonatal Hypotonias,Tone Atonic, Muscle,Tone Poor, Muscle
D009469	Neuromuscular Junction	The synapse between a neuron and a muscle.	Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
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
D003402	Creatine Kinase	A transferase that catalyzes formation of PHOSPHOCREATINE from ATP + CREATINE. The reaction stores ATP energy as phosphocreatine. Three cytoplasmic ISOENZYMES have been identified in human tissues: the MM type from SKELETAL MUSCLE, the MB type from myocardial tissue and the BB type from nervous tissue as well as a mitochondrial isoenzyme. Macro-creatine kinase refers to creatine kinase complexed with other serum proteins.	Creatine Phosphokinase,ADP Phosphocreatine Phosphotransferase,ATP Creatine Phosphotransferase,Macro-Creatine Kinase,Creatine Phosphotransferase, ATP,Kinase, Creatine,Macro Creatine Kinase,Phosphocreatine Phosphotransferase, ADP,Phosphokinase, Creatine,Phosphotransferase, ADP Phosphocreatine,Phosphotransferase, ATP Creatine
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
D005260	Female		Females