title: Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of rocuronium following continuous infusion in patients during intravenous anaesthesia.
abstract: After an initial bolus dose (0.6 mg kg-1), 10 patients received a continuous infusion of rocuronium, initially at 0.5 mg kg-1h-1, and then adjusted to maintain 90% twitch depression. Blood samples were analysed for 420 min after switching off the infusion. The dose required to maintain the block was 595 +/- 146 micrograms kg-1h-1, 7-9 times that reported for vecuronium under similar conditions. The pharmacokinetic parameters (volume of distribution at steady state, 309 +/- 80 ml kg-1, plasma clearance 4.5 +/- 1.96 ml kg-1 min-1, and elimination half-life 107 +/- 37 min) were similar to those previously reported after a large single bolus.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Anaesthesia and General Intensive Care Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sparr
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khuenl-Brady
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013933:Thumb
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077123:Rocuronium