Plasma cholinesterase levels following pancuronium and vecuronium

Plasma cholinesterase levels were measured in 52 patients following administration of pancuronium 1 mg/70 kg (10 patients) and 0.1 mg/kg (10 patients) and vecuronium in doses of 1 mg/70 kg (10 patients), 0.1 mg/kg (10 patients) and 0.2 mg/kg (12 patients). Both doses of pancuronium produced a significant (P less than 0.05 - less than 0.005) reduction in the enzyme levels. Vecuronium in a dose of 1 mg/70 kg was without any significant effects but the two higher doses produced a dose-related reduction of about 8 and 16% in the enzyme levels, respectively, which was statistically significant (P less than 0.05 - less than 0.001).