title: Rocuronium bromide in the ICU: dose finding and pharmacokinetics.
abstract: Thirty patients requiring elective ventilation in the ICU received either intermittent boluses (25 patients) or a continuous infusion (five patients) of rocuronium. Degree of block was monitored by train-of-four stimuli and maintained at one twitch either observed or palpated. All patients were sedated with intermittent doses or an infusion of 0.14-0.4 microgram kg-1 h-1 of midazolam and received a continuous infusion of either sufentanil or fentanyl (0.25-2.0 micrograms kg-1 h-1). Control of ventilation was better with the continuous infusion of rocuronium, but these patients also had a more intense block receiving 9.9 +/- 1.3 micrograms kg-1 min-1 as compared to 6.4 +/- 2.3 micrograms kg-1 min-1 in the bolus group. Elimination half-time, volume of distribution at steady-state, and mean residence time were significantly greater than in surgical patients receiving comparable infusions, but plasma clearance was similar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Khuenl-Brady
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sparr
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pühringer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agoston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000758:Anesthesia; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077123:Rocuronium
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077123:Rocuronium