A study of the neuromuscular blocking properties and cardiovascular effects of vecuronium

Abstract

Vecuronium bromide in a standard dose of O.lmg per kilogram body weight was used on one hundred patients of the American Society of Anaesthesiologists status I and II undergoing abdominal or limb surgery. The time of onset of action with each intravenous dose of vecuronium and its duration of action time were measured The pulse rate and blood pressure were monitored before and after administration of vecuronium. Informed verbal consent was obtained from each patient. The premedication, induction, maintenance and reversal drugs were standardized. A nerve stimulator on the ulnar nerve was used to obtain onset of maximal block and time of at least 75% recovery from the block. An automatic electronic blood pressure machine model DS.91 was used to monitor the pulse rate and blood pressure at the necessary intervals.

It was found that the average onset time of action of vecuronium O.lmg/kg was 194 seconds (3 minutes 14 seconds). The average duration of action time was 29.55 minutes. A decline in pulse rate and mean arterial pressure was noted after the induction of anaesthesia. This was not found to be clinically significant. Intraoperatively , from time of injection of vecuronium to twenty minutes later. there was minimal change in pulse rate and mean arterial pressure.