A new infusion design for atracurium and vecuronium

An infusion technique, designed to reduce the duration of period of no response to nerve stimulation following atracurium (Group I) and vecuronium (Group 2), was studied in 30 patients during neurolept anaesthesia. For intubation a combination of a small bolus injection of the relaxant (ED50) and a continuous infusion were administered. The tactile response to nerve stimulation was used to quantify the degree of relaxation and to adjust the speed of infusion. On the other arm the mechanical twitch was recorded blindly for control. Good to excellent intubation conditions were obtained in 4.3 min with atracurium and in 4.0 min with vecuronium. The total dose given for intubation was 0.36 mg kg-1 atracurium (0.24-0.49 mg kg-1) and 0.064 mg kg-1 vecuronium (0.046-0.084 mg kg-1). The period of no response was zero in seven patients in Group I and in four patients in Group 2. In the remaining patients in Group I the period of no response ranged from 5.0-25.0 min, median 10.9 min, and in Group 2 from 2.5-15.6 min, median 9.5 min. At the time of extubation the train-of-four ratio was 0.71 and 0.72 in Group I and 2, respectively. It is concluded that it is possible to achieve a stable, adjustable, and easily reversible block with this technique, even during surgery of short duration.