COMPARISON OF TIME-COURSE OF NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE IN YOUNG-CHILDRENFOLLOWING ROCURONIUM AND ATRACURIUM

In order to compare the neuromuscular effects following rocuronium 0.6 mg kg(-1) and atracurium 0.5 mg kg(-1) 30 children aged from 18 to 67 months were studied under the same anaesthetic conditions. After indu ction of anaesthesia with etomidate and fentanyl, neuromuscular blocka de was monitored by recording the electromyographic response of the ad ductor pollicis muscle to a supramaximal train-of-four (TOF) stimulati on of the ulnar nerve at 2 Hz for 2 s at 20-s intervals. Intubation wa s performed when more than 90% muscle relaxation was achieved, thereaf ter anaesthesia was maintained with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen and is oflurane 0.5% end-tidal. Mean onset of action was significantly faster following rocuronium (86+/-44.9 s) (mean+/-SD) compared with atracuri um (126.3+/-61.0 s). Clinical duration with rocuronium was 22.8+/-5.31 min and thus significantly shorter than that of atracurium, which was 31.5+/-6.01 min. A statistically significant difference between rocur onium and atracurium also had been found for recovery of T-1 to 50%, 7 5% and 90% as well as for the time taken to a TOF ratio of 70%. The re covery index for rocuronium and atracurium was not significantly diffe rent with 9.2+/-3.43 min and 10.9+/-2.65 min, respectively. Thus, rocu ronium may be more advantageous than atracurium for short-lasting surg ical procedures in young children.