[Muscle relaxants. New substances and neuromuscular monitoring]

Recent developments in both the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular blockade and new muscle relaxants are reviewed. With respect to nerve stimulation, neuromuscular recording, and definition of parameters, the results of the 1994 Copenhagen International Consensus Conference are highlighted. Future clinical studies should adhere to these standards.

Rocuronium, cisatracurium, and mivacurium are new muscle relaxants that were released for clinical use in 1995/1996. Of these, rocuronium has the shortest time of onset, whereas its recovery characteristics closely resemble those of vecuronium. Rocuronium is five times less potent than vecuronium. Twice the ED95 of rocuronium provides good or excellent intubating conditions within 60 to 90 s. Slight vagolytic effects were reported following injection of 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium, while histamine release was not observed. Cisatracurium is one of the ten steroisomers of atracurium. It is five times as potent as the chiral mixture while having a similar pharmacodynamic and -kinetic profile. Up to eight times the ED95 did not cause significant histamine release or clinically relevant cardiovascular effects. Mivacurium is a short-acting nondepolarizing benzylisoquinoline muscle relaxant that undergoes rapid break-down by plasma cholinesterase (PChE). Its duration of action is about one-half as long as that of equipotent doses of atracurium and vecuronium and three times as long as succinylcholine. Mivacurium has a moderate histamine-releasing potential. In patients with atypical or reduced PChE activity, the duration of action of mivacurium is prolonged.