title: Onset and duration of action of rocuronium in children receiving chronic anticonvulsant therapy.
abstract: The onset and time course of action of rocuronium in normal children and children receiving anticonvulsant drugs for prolonged periods was characterized. A single bolus dose of 0.6 mg.kg-1 rocuronium was administered i.v. to seven nonepileptic patients on no medication, and eight patients on chronic anticonvulsant therapy consisting of either phenytoin, carbamazepine, or both who were age and weight matched. Neuromuscular transmission was monitored by the evoked compound electromyography of the thenar muscles using train of four stimulation every 20 s. Recovery times of the first twitch to 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of baseline values and recovery index were obtained. The onset times were 1.05+/-0.5 and 1.41+/-0.5 min for the control and anticonvulsant groups respectively and were not significantly different. Children receiving chronic anticonvulsant therapy had significantly shorter recovery index than the control group (control 10.4+/-5.1 min, anticonvulsant 4.8+/-1.7 min, P<0.05). Furthermore, the duration of recovery to 10%, 50%, 75% and 100% of baseline T1 values was less in the anticonvulsant drug group. Our data confirm resistance to rocuronium in children on chronic anticonvulsant drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, at Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kaus
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martyn
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000732:Androstanols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077123:Rocuronium; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D013933:Thumb / Q000294:innervation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin; D000077123:Rocuronium