PHARMACODYNAMICS OF MIVACURIUM IN SEVERELY BURNED PATIENTS

The pharmacodynamics of mivacurium, a new short-acting nondepolarizing muscle relaxant, were studied in nine severely burned patients with c oncomitant inhalation injury. Complete neuromuscular blockade was achi eved within 1.3 min (controls 3.0 min) Following the usually recommend ed intubating dose (0.15 mg/kg/BW2 x ED(95)) of mivacurium. The clinic al duration of neuromuscular blockade and the recovery times were slig htly prolonged, due to significantly reduced sevum cholinesterase acti vity (clinical duration 24.6 min vs. 15.3 min). This pharmacodynamic p rofile makes mivacurium preferable for intermittent on-demand neuromus cular blockade in the severely burned patient.