title: The influence of hypothermia (surface cooling) on the time-course of action and on the pharmacokinetics of rocuronium in humans.
abstract: Hypothermia prolongs the time-course of action of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. The mechanism, however, is unknown. We studied the influence of hypothermia (by surface cooling, nasopharyngeal temperature < or = 31 degrees C) on the time-course of action and on the pharmacokinetics of rocuronium in humans. Nineteen neurosurgical patients were divided into hypothermic and normothermic groups. Hypothermia (30.4 +/- 0.8 degrees C (mean +/- SD)) increased the duration of action, temperature dependently, and delayed the recovery. Hypothermia reduced the plasma clearance significantly (2.17 +/- 0.62 vs. 4.26 +/- 0.50 mL kg-1 min-1, P = 0.004), did not change the volume of distribution (224 +/- 64 vs. 232 +/- 60 mL kg-1 min-1, P = 1.0), and prolonged the mean residence time (108 +/- 39 vs. 56 +/- 19 mL kg-1 min-1, P = 0.01). We conclude that hypothermia prolongs the duration of action of rocuronium and delays spontaneous recovery and that altered pharmacokinetics, such as a decreased clearance, play an important role in this.
authors.affiliation: Research Group for Experimental Anesthesiology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Beaufort
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wierda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belopavlovic
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nederveen
authors.forename: U W
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Kleef
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agoston
mesh_terms: D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000758:Anesthesia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000077123:Rocuronium
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077123:Rocuronium