[Muscle relaxant effect of atracurium in patients with chronic renal failure]

The muscle relaxant effect of atracurium was monitored by measuring the strength of the adductor pollicis muscle (TH) elicited by supramaximal stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. In order to facilitate tracheal intubation, a dose of 0.6 mg X kg-1 was administered in 10 patients with complete renal failure. The results were compared with those obtained from 20 normal patients. The dose of 0.6 mg X kg-1 produced adequate conditions for tracheal intubation. A 95% or more depression of TH was obtained in both groups after 3 min. The duration of effect was similar in both groups. The delay between injection and 75% recovery of TH was of 62 min in controls and 52 min in patients with renal failure. Only the recovery index (the time elapsed between 25% and 75% recovery) was shorter in patients with renal failure (p less than 0.01): 8 min instead of 14 min in the controls.