title: Vecuronium infusion dose requirements during fentanyl and halothane anesthesia in humans.
abstract: Steady-state infusion rate requirements of vecuronium were determined in 29 patients during either halothane-nitrous oxide or fentanyl-nitrous oxide anesthesia at different levels of neuromuscular block. During N2O-halothane anesthesia (end-tidal concentration, 0.5%), the infusion rate necessary for a steady-state (defined as unchanging twitch height and infusion rate for at least 20 min) 50% depression of twitch force was 28.8 +/- 5.4 (mean +/- SD) (n = 8) and 47.6 +/- 9.7 micrograms . kg-1 . hr-1 (n = 6) at 90% reduction of twitch force. During N2O-fentanyl anesthesia, the steady-state infusion rate required for 50 and 90% decrease of twitch force was 56.3 +/- 20.0 (n = 9) and 74.8 +/- 16.0 micrograms . kg-1 . hr-1 (n = 6), respectively. The variances of vecuronium steady-state infusion dose requirements were smaller in the halothane groups than in the fentanyl anesthesia groups. The steady-state vecuronium infusion dose requirements during fentanyl anesthesia were greater than the mean infusion dose requirements during halothane anesthesia at equivalent levels of twitch depression.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gencarelli
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Koot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005283:Fentanyl; D006221:Halothane; D006801:Humans; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010197:Pancuronium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide
chemical_list: D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D010197:Pancuronium; D005283:Fentanyl; D006221:Halothane