Biomaterial Database

Synergism between atracurium and vecuronium in children. 1993

O A Meretoja, and B W Brandom, and T Taivainen, and L Jalkanen

Department of Anaesthesiology, Children's Hospital University of Helsinki, Finland.

In 30 children under balanced anaesthesia, we have determined dose-response curves and maintenance requirement of three dose ratio combinations of atracurium and vecuronium (10:1, 4:1 or 1.6:1 on a microgram:microgram basis). Neuromuscular block was monitored by adductor pollicis EMG. An equipotent dose ratio (4:1) was most potent, with a mean (SEM) ED95 of atracurium 95 (6) micrograms kg-1 with vecuronium 24 (1) micrograms kg-1. The sum of these doses is only 58% of an ED95 value of one agent (P = 0.0001). The hourly requirement to maintain a 90-95% neuromuscular block was 2.0 (0.1) times an individual ED95 dose of any combination. Recovery index was 8.9 (0.5) min. These results indicate that a combination of atracurium and vecuronium is supra-additive compared with the effects of each drug alone. However, all combinations maintained an intermediate character of neuromuscular block. Combining atracurium with vecuronium may reduce drug requirement by 40%.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D009407	Nerve Block	Interruption of NEURAL CONDUCTION in peripheral nerves or nerve trunks by the injection of a local anesthetic agent (e.g., LIDOCAINE; PHENOL; BOTULINUM TOXINS) to manage or treat pain.	Chemical Neurolysis,Chemodenervation,Nerve Blockade,Block, Nerve,Blockade, Nerve,Blockades, Nerve,Blocks, Nerve,Chemical Neurolyses,Chemodenervations,Nerve Blockades,Nerve Blocks,Neurolyses, Chemical,Neurolysis, Chemical
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
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
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004357	Drug Synergism	The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug.	Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001279	Atracurium	A non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent with short duration of action. Its lack of significant cardiovascular effects and its lack of dependence on good kidney function for elimination provide clinical advantage over alternate non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents.	Atracurium Besylate,Atracurium Dibesylate,33 A 74,Atracurium Besilate,BW-33A,Relatrac,Tracrium,A 74, 33,BW 33A,BW33A,Besilate, Atracurium
D014673	Vecuronium Bromide	Monoquaternary homolog of PANCURONIUM. A non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent with shorter duration of action than pancuronium. Its lack of significant cardiovascular effects and lack of dependence on good kidney function for elimination as well as its short duration of action and easy reversibility provide advantages over, or alternatives to, other established neuromuscular blocking agents.	NC-45,Norcuron,ORG-NC 45,ORG-NC-45,ORG-NC45,Vecuronium,Vecuronium Bromide, Quaternary Ion,Vecuronium Citrate,Vecuronium Hydrobromide,Vecuronium Hydrochloride,Vecuronium Maleate,Vecuronium Phosphate,Bromide, Vecuronium,Citrate, Vecuronium,Hydrobromide, Vecuronium,Hydrochloride, Vecuronium,Maleate, Vecuronium,NC 45,NC45,ORG NC 45,ORG NC45,ORGNC 45,ORGNC45,Phosphate, Vecuronium