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Anesth Analg 1986; 65:117-122
© 1986 International Anesthesia Research Society
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The Neuromuscular Blocking Effect of Vecuronium on the Human Diaphragm

Marcel Chauvin, MD, Claude Lebrault, MD, and Philippe Duvaldestin, MD

Department of Anesthesia, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Université Paris 5, Boulogne sur Seine, France.

Abstract

This study compares the neuromuscular blocking effect of vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) on the diaphragm and the adductor pollicis in nine anesthetized patients. Monitoring of the diaphragm consisted of measurement of the transdiaphragmatic pressure after bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation. Onset time for neuromuscular blockade of the diaphragm was 1.6 ± 0.3 min (±sd) compared to 2.5 ± 0.3 min in the adductor pollicis (P < 0.001). The diaphragm recovered earlier and more rapidly than the adductor pollicis. The twitch height (TH) returned to 25% of its control value after 27 ± 8 min for the diaphragm, compared to 41 ± 11 min for the adductor pollicis (P < 0.01). Complete TH recovery was achieved after 49 ± 14 min for the diaphragm and after 74 ± 22 min for the adductor pollicis (P < 0.01). The recovery index of 12 ± 4 min for the diaphragm was significantly shorter (P < 0.05) than for the adductor pollicis (20 ± 9 min.) We conclude that monitoring of peripheral muscles in anesthetized patients given vecuronium provides adequate information about the degree of paralysis of the diaphragm.

Key Words: NEUROMUSCULAR RELAXANTS— vecuronium.






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.