title: Neuromuscular effects of rocuronium in children during halothane anaesthesia.
abstract: Rocuronium bromide, a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant has been shown to have a short onset and intermediate duration of action in adults and young children. We evaluated onset time, intubating conditions, as well as duration of action of rocuronium in children ages four to 12 years during nitrous oxide-halothane anaesthesia. Following a stable recording of train-of-four (TOF) impulses at the ulnar nerve, patients were given rocuronium 600 micrograms.kg-1 intravenously. We found that the time to 90% and 100% neuromuscular (N-M) block of the (TOF) was 51 +/- 18 s and 66 +/- 32 s respectively. Intubation was achieved at 94 +/- 31 s and rated as good or excellent in all cases. Time to recovery of N-M transmission to 25%, 75% and 90% of control was 29 +/- 8 min, 42 +/- 14 min and 46 +/- 16 min respectively. Heart rate increased approximately 12 BPM after drug injection, while the blood pressure remained unchanged. From our data we conclude that, as in other age groups, rocuronium has a rapid onset, intermediate duration of action in children 4-12 years of age, and appears devoid of significant side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vuksanaj
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skjonsby
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D000732:Androstanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D000077123:Rocuronium; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006221:Halothane; D000077123:Rocuronium