Production of laudanosine following infusion of atracurium in man and its effects on awakening.
Twenty patients were given maximal doses of atracurium or vecuronium by infusion during surgery. Anaesthesia was maintained with an infusion of thiopentone, nitrous oxide and fentanyl. In patients administered atracurium, the plasma laudanosine concentration at cessation of surgery was 0.34 (SD 0.22) micrograms ml-1; there was little tendency to cumulate during operation. A 20% higher arterial concentration of thiopentone was found at awakening in patients given atracurium, suggesting CNS stimulation by laudanosine, although the effect is too modest to be of clinical significance.
Anaesthesia Department, Amalgamated Melbourne and Essendon Hospitals, Victoria, Australia.
G H
GH
Beemer
A R
AR
Bjorksten
P J
PJ
Dawson
D P
DP
Crankshaw
D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001279:Atracurium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013874:Thiopental / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D007546:Isoquinolines; D001279:Atracurium; C001522:laudanosine; D013874:Thiopental