title: [The action of atracurium and vecuronium in chronically hemodialyzed patients].
abstract: Reports on the duration of action of atracurium (Atr) and vecuronium (Vec) in patients with renal failure are contradictory. It is either stated that the duration is equal for both relaxants or that Atr acts for a longer duration. Because of these conflicting results, we measured the times for latency (tL), onset (tA), duration of action (tW), and recovery (tE) for both agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourty patients with end-stage renal failure on chronic haemodialysis were randomly assigned to receive either Atr (0.4 mg.kg-1 BW) or Vec (0.08 mg.kg-1 BW). After induction with thiopentone and 0.1 mg fentanyl, anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide and 1 vol.% ethrane and expiratory CO2 partial pressure was kept between 4.6 and 4.9 kPa. If the twitch height of T1 regained 25% of the pre-relaxation value, 20% of the initial relaxant bolus was injected. Relaxation was monitored with a relaxograph after calibration of the device. After testing for a normal distribution, statistical analysis was done by Student's t-test. A value of P < or = 0.05 was chosen for statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences regarding tL (Atr: 1.0 +/- 0.5 min; Vec: 1.1 +/- 0.5 min) and tA (Atr: 5.5 +/- 2.1 min; Vec 4.1 +/- 2.4 min); tW (Atr: 21.3 +/- 13.1 min; Vec 31.7 +/- 15.6 min) and tE (Atr: 19.0 +/- 9.0 min; Vec 30.1 +/- 19.0) were significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are not in accordance with those authors who found in comparison with Atr an equal or shorter duration of action for Vec in patients with renal failure. If the duration of action is equal in subjects with no renal insufficiency, our measurements are in accordance with kinetic evaluations showing the same clearance and half-life for Atr in patients with and without renal insufficiency, but 40% diminished clearance and 60% prolonged half-life for Vec in renal insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und operative Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Steglitz der FU Berlin.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001279:Atracurium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide
vernacular_title: Die Wirkung von Atracurium und Vecuronium bei chronisch hämodialysierten Patienten.