Prolonged weakness after the withdrawal of atracurium

Prolonged weakness after the use of neuromuscular blocking agents is an increasingly recognized iatrogenic complication of critical care. Vecuronium and pancuronium have been associated with this syndrome, but few cases of atracurium-associated prolonged paresis have heretofore been reported. Many practitioners have thus chosen to use atracurium instead of longer-acting neuromuscular blockers when muscle relaxation is required in the supportive management of critically ill patients. We here report a case of prolonged paresis after the administration of atracurium.