Effects of a low dose of pancuronium on oxygen consumption during sustained muscular exercise

The effects of a low dose of pancuronium on muscular performance were studied in six healthy volunteers. Three dynamic exercise tests at increasing levels of power were performed by each subject on two consecutive days using an ergometric bicycle. To assess muscular function, oxygen consumption was measured in a steady state at each level of power output. Pancuronium 6-8 micrograms kg-1 or placebo was administered i.v. in a double-blind fashion before the second test each day. Plasma pancuronium levels were measured 8 min after administration but even with pancuronium clearly detectable in the plasma no significant differences were found either in oxygen consumption or in the haemodynamic measurements made. The authors conclude that such doses of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents do not disturb oxygen consumption during dynamic muscular exercise and are therefore unlikely to have a significant effect on muscular function.