title: Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rocuronium at the vocal cords and the adductor pollicis in humans.
abstract: The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationship of rocuronium at the laryngeal adductor muscles and the adductor pollicis was determined in eight patients during general anesthesia. Rocuronium was administered as an infusion at a rate of 100 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 over 5 minutes. The half-life of transport between plasma and biophase (effect compartment) was significantly shorter at the adductor laryngeal muscles (2.7 +/- 0.6 minutes, mean +/- SD) than at the adductor pollicis (4.4 +/- 1.5 minutes, p = 0.003). The concentration in the effect compartment producing 50% of the maximum effect was significantly greater at the adductor laryngeal muscles (1424 +/- 148 micrograms.L-1) than at the adductor pollicis (823 +/- 157 micrograms.L-1, p = 0.0001). The shorter onset of neuromuscular blockade at the laryngeal muscles than at the adductor pollicis may be explained by a faster transfer rate at the laryngeal adductor muscles neuromuscular junction than at the adductor pollicis neuromuscular junction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plaud
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Proost
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wierda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Debaene
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meistelman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000732:Androstanols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013933:Thumb; D014827:Vocal Cords
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077123:Rocuronium