title: Priming of pancuronium with magnesium.
abstract: Magnesium inhibits the release of acetylcholine from the motor nerve terminal and thus potentiates the action of the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs. We have examined the possibility that this effect might enhance the speed of onset of non-depolarizing block with pancuronium. Following the administration of pancuronium 100 micrograms kg-1, 95% depression of thumb twitch occurred in 68.3 (SD 25.9) s in magnesium-pretreated subjects and in 73.7 (19.5) s in a group given a priming dose (10 micrograms kg-1) of pancuronium. Tracheal intubation was performed after 97.8 (22.5) s in the magnesium group and in 121.0 (37.5) s in the control group (ns). It is concluded that pretreatment with magnesium does not usefully increase the speed of onset of action of pancuronium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University of Cape Town, Medical School, Observatory, South Africa.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van der Veen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D010197:Pancuronium