Pulmonary function following 'pretreatment' dose of pancuronium in volunteers

The effect of a pretreatment dose (0.014 mg/kg) of pancuronium bromide on pulmonary function tests in 15 healthy volunteers was investigated. Ventilatory flow volume loops and maximum voluntary ventilation were determined before and 1 and 3 minutes following administration of the pancuronium. Calculation of the pulmonary function from the flow volume loops revealed statistically significant decreases in forced expiratory flow at 50% of expired volume, forced expiratory volume at 1 second and 3 seconds, peak inspiratory flow, peak inspiratory flow at 50% of inspired volume, forced vital capacity, and maximum voluntary ventilation. Significant pulmonary dysfunction associated with dyspnea was seen in four subjects and one subject had to be artificially ventilated and pancuronium had to be reversed with prostigmine. Ventilation should be closely monitored in patients following pretreatment doses of pancuronium in view of frequent atypical responses.