JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sohn, Y. J. Articles by Agoston, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sohn, Y. J. Articles by Agoston, S.

Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Dynamics of Vecuronium and Pancuronium in Anesthetized Patients

Institutes of Anesthesiology and Clinical Pharmacology, State University of Groningen, The Netherlands, and the Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco.

Abstract

Plasma concentrations and the degree of neuromuscular blockade after a 2-min infusion of 0.1 mg/kg of vecuronium bromide or pancuronium bromide (equipotent doses) were studied in 12 gynecologic patients. The plasma concentrations of both drugs declined in a triphasic manner. The difference between the intercepts and rate constants of the two drugs was not significant. Vecuronium was removed faster from the plasma than pancuronium; this was reflected in a significantly larger plasma clearance rate for vecuronium (4 ml·min^–1·kg^–1 vs 1.1 ml·min^–1 for pancuronium). The effective plasma concentrations at 50% recovery of the twitch height were 0.11 ± 0.02 (vecuronium) and 0.2 ± 0.03 µg/ml (pancuronium). The disposition kinetics were adequately described by a three-compartment model. An effect compartment was added to the model to correlate the neuromuscular effects and plasma concentrations of both drugs. The ratio between concentrations of vecuronium and pancuronizim in the effect compartment at 50% twitch height was 0.83. In spite of its greater potency, vecuronium has a shorter duration of action than pancuronium.

Key Words: NEUROMUSCULAR RELAXANTS—pancuronium, vecuronium • PHARMACOKINETICS—pancuronium, vecuronium

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Igarashi, S. Amagasa, H. Horikawa, and M. Shirahata Vecuronium Directly Inhibits Hypoxic Neurotransmission of the Rat Carotid Body Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2002; 94(1): 117 - 122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. F. Kopman, N. A. Khan, and G. G. Neuman Precurarization and Priming: A Theoretical Analysis of Safety and Timing Anesth. Analg., November 1, 2001; 93(5): 1253 - 1236. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				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]

				J. C. Bevan, L. Collins, C. Fowler, R. Kahwaji, H. D. Rosen, M. F. Smith, L. d. Scheepers, C. A. Stephenson, and D. R. Bevan Early and Late Reversal of Rocuronium and Vecuronium with Neostigmine in Adults and Children Anesth. Analg., August 1, 1999; 89(2): 333 - 333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Schiere, J. H. Proost, M. Schuringa, and J. M. K. H. Wierda Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacokinetic-Dynamic Relationship Between Rapacuronium (Org 9487) and Its 3-Desacetyl Metabolite (Org 9488) Anesth. Analg., March 1, 1999; 88(3): 640 - 640. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Zhang, M. J. Dresser, A. T. Gray, S. C. Yost, S. Terashita, and K. M. Giacomini Cloning and Functional Expression of a Human Liver Organic Cation Transporter Mol. Pharmacol., June 1, 1997; 51(6): 913 - 921. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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