Abstract:

To compare the neuromuscular block effects of vecuronium administered by continuous infusion or bolus injection, thirty patients undergoing selective neurosurgery were randomly allocated into three groups, 10 in each group. The patients were induced with fentanyl, propofol and vecuronium, 0.1 mg/kg and intubated intratracheally. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol and isoflurane. The neuromuscular function(train-of-four, TOF)was monitored with Biometer acceleromyography. When T₁ returned to 2%,the maintaining dose of vecuronium, 0.1 mg/kg, was administrated in three ways: in group A, 0.05 mg/kg iv bolus and repeated while T₁=2% again; 0.1 mg/kg iv bolus in group B, and infused intravenously with 0.1 mg/(kg·h)and changed to 0.05 mg/(kg·h)when T₁=0. The complete block time(the time between T₁=0 and T₁=2%)was calculated. The complete block times in group A, B and C were(53.0±3.8)min,(50.3±5.2)min and(102.7±5.5)min respectively, with significant differences among the three groups(P<0.01). Continuos infusion of vecuronium can double neuromuscular block time than bolus injection.

Key words: vecuronium, neuromuscular block, bolus injection, continuous intravenous infusion