[Serum acetylcholinesterase changes after pancuronium administration]

The acetylcholinesterase activity was followed, as a variant of true cholinesterase, in three groups on non-selected patients: 10 of these were under local anesthesia with lidocaine, 12 were under general anesthesia with thiopenthal and halotane and 43 were under the same type of general anesthesia, that had also been given Pancuronium as a muscle relaxant. A slight inhibition was noted of the enzyme activities in the course of local anesthesia and a more significant one in the course of general anesthesia. The enzyme concentrations were lower in those patients that had also received Pancuronium, suggesting a cummulative inhibitory effect on serum acetylcholinesterase. The changes were not significant from the statistical viewpoint.