title: Tetanic fade during recovery from vecuronium block: comparison of systemic and isolated forearm administration.
abstract: We have compared the degree of tetanic fade relative to twitch depression occurring after isolated forearm block with vecuronium and that after systemic i.v. injection. Fifteen patients received either vecuronium 0.3 mg into an isolated forearm or vecuronium 0.05 mg kg-1 systemically. Adductor pollicis mechanomyography was used to monitor recovery of twitch height at 0.2 Hz. At 25, 50, 75 and 100% recovery of twitch height, a 5-s, 50-Hz tetanus was administered and tetanic fade ratio measured. There was significantly less tetanic fade in the isolated forearm group (P < 0.01; unpaired ttest) at 25, 50 and 75% twitch height. This suggests that twitch depression and tetanic fade are independently mediated effects of vecuronium.
authors.affiliation: Magill Department of Anaesthetics, Westminster Hospital, London.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Campkin
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009407:Nerve Block; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014673:Vecuronium Bromide