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Anesth Analg 1986; 65:1319-1323
© 1986 International Anesthesia Research Society
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Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Vecuronium and Pancuronium in Anesthetized Children

Claude Meistelman, MD, Sandor Agoston, MD, PhD, Ursula W. Kersten, Claude Saint-Maurice, MD, Anton F. Bencini, MD, FFARCS, and Jean-Pierre Loose, MD

Received from the Department of Anesthesiology, Hopital Saint Vincent de Paul, Paris, France, and the Institute of Anesthesiology, State University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vecuronium and pancuronium were determined in 12 children (3–6 yr) undergoing minor surgery under 60% nitrous oxide, 1 MAC halothane anesthesia. When the level of anesthesia and the electromyograph (EMG) recording of the adductor pollicis were stable, an intravenous bolus of vecuronium (100 µg/kg) or pancuronium (100 µg/kg) was administered. Plasma concentrations of the two muscle relaxants were determined for 6 hr after the administration by means of a fluorimetric assay followed by a thin layer chromatography. Plasma concentrations of vecuronium and pancuronium declined biexponentially in children and no metabolites could be detected in plasma. The elimination half-lives of vecuronium and pancuronium did not differ significantly. The volume of distribution at steady state (VdSS) was greater (P < 0.05) after vecuronium (320 ± 181 ml/kg; mean ± SD) than after pancuronium (203 ± 36 ml/kg). Plasma clearance of vecuronium (2.8 ± 0.9 ml·min–1 · kg–1) was greater than that of pancuronium (1.7 ± 0.2 ml · min–1 · kg–1; P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations measured at 10%, 50%, or 90% recovery of the EMG response did not differ significantly for vecuronium and pancuronium. Thus the shorter duration of action of vecuronium is probably due to its greater apparent volume of distribution, as well as to its higher plasma clearance. Thus although the elimination half-lives are comparable, the plasma disappearance of vecuronium is more rapid than that of pancuronium.

Key Words: ANESTHESIA—pediatric. • NEUROMUS-CULAR RELAXANTS—vecuronium, pancuronium. • PHARMACOKINETICS—vecuronium, pancuronium.




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 Canadian J. AnesthesiaHome page
D Withington, G Menard, J Harris, P Kulkarni, F Donati, and F Varin
Vecuronium pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children
Can J Anesth, December 1, 2000; 47(12): 1188 - 1195.
[Abstract]


Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press
Copyright © 1986 by the International Anesthesia Research Society.