title: [Repeated injection of atracurium for muscle relaxation in abdominal surgery].
abstract: 21 patients selected for abdominal surgery received intravenously after initiation of neuroleptic analgesia for intubation, 0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) of atracurium. Relaxation was maintained by repeat doses of 0.2 mg/kg BW atracurium. Both the time of intubation and the time of giving the repeat dose depended on the electromyographically measured stimulus response to supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve (Datex-NTM, "Train-of-Four" stimulation). Intubation was effected at maximal inhibition of stimulus response, on the average after 195 +/- 90 sec. The duration of clinical efficacy was 33 +/- 8 min on the average, the recovery index 13 +/- 7 min and the duration of the full effect 54 +/- 6 min. The repeat doses were administered as soon as stimulus response recovered to 25% of the original value. Up to a cumulative total dose of 1.5 mg/kg BW atracurium no extension of the duration of clinical efficacy and of the full effect was seen, but there was a prolongation of the recovery index. The "Train-of-Four" quotient during recovery of relaxation was independent of the cumulative total dose. In the dosage levels described here, atracurium hardly exercised any action on pulse rate and blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum der Anästhesiologie und Wiederbung Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leuwer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001279:Atracurium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium
vernacular_title: Wiederholte Injektion von Atracurium zur Muskelrelaxation bei abdominalchirurgischen Eingriffen.