New muscle relaxants in outpatient anesthesiology

The ideal neuromuscular blocking drug for dental and other outpatient procedures would be nondepolarizing (therefore reversible), highly potent, have a rapid onset and short duration of action, be highly specific for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, be eliminated independently of renal or hepatic metabolism, and have minimal side effects such as tachycardia and histamine release. The newer neuromuscular blocking drugs vecuronium and atracurium approach this ideal much more closely than the older drugs curare, metocurine, and gallamine. Aside from considerations of slightly higher cost, the neuromuscular blocking agents of choice remain succinylcholine for rapid, short-lived paralysis, vecuronium and atracurium for relaxation of 15- to 60-minute duration and when cardiovascular stability is vital, and pancuronium for longer surgical procedures. Vecuronium and atracurium have achieved and will continue to achieve predominance in the anesthetic management of the short-procedure patient.