Pharmacodynamics of vecuronium in patients with and without renal failure: a meta-analysis

Eight trials comparing the effects of vecuronium in patients with either normal renal function or renal failure were subjected to a meta-analysis. Vecuronium doses were similar in the different trials, identical in the two patient groups of any given trial, and ranged from 0.05 to 0.14 mg.kg-1. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed by TOF or single twitch stimulation, and recorded by either mechanomyography or electromyography. Indices of blockade included onset time (from injection to maximal twitch depression), duration of action (from injection to recovery to 25% of control twitch) and 25-75% recovery index. Statistical analysis used Hedges method: effect size and variance were calculated for each relevant outcome, then the global effect size was estimated by pooling the effect sizes of each trial. Three separate meta-analyses were conducted. No differences were found either in onset time, or in recovery index between the two groups, whereas the duration of action was longer in the renal failure group. It is concluded that renal function is likely involved in the pharmacokinetic parameters of vecuronium.