Evaluation of atracurium neuromuscular blockade in paediatric patients with burn injury.
The neuromuscular effects of atracurium were studied in acutely burned children, and in children at least 3 years after burn injury (controls). Thirty-one children were studied a total of 48 times. During nitrous oxide-narcotic anaesthesia, a single dose of atracurium was administered in each study and the twitch suppression recorded. Dose-response curves were established using least-squares regression techniques. The ED95 of atracurium in children recovered from burn injury was 0.27 mg kg-1, which is similar to that of normal children reported previously. During the first week of burn injury, the ED95 was 0.3 mg kg-1 irrespective of burn size, and was not significantly different from controls. After the first week of injury, in children with 20-60% body surface burn, the ED95 was twice normal, while in those with greater than 60% body surface burn, it probably may be increased up to 3.0 mg kg-1.
Mills
A K
AK
Department of Anaesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Martyn
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001279:Atracurium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D001279:Atracurium