PHARMACODYNAMICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS OF ROCURONIUM FOLLOWING CONTINUOUS-INFUSION IN PATIENTS DURING INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA

After an initial bolus dose (0.6 mg kg-1), 10 patients received a cont inuous infusion of rocuronium, initially at 0.5 mg kg-1 h-1, and then adjusted to maintain 90% twitch depression. Blood samples were analyse d for 420 min after switching off the infusion. The dose required to m aintain the block was 595+/-146 mug kg-1 h-1, 7-9 times that reported for vecuronium under similar conditions. The pharmacokinetic parameter s (volume of distribution at steady state, 309+/-80 ml kg-1, plasma cl earance 4.5+/-1.96 ml kg-1 min-1, and elimination half-life 107+/-37 m in) were similar to those previously reported after a large single bol us.