ABSTRACT
Objective To study the influence of carbamazepine on the neuromuscular block induced by rocuronium. Methods Thirty-two ASA Ⅰ- Ⅱ patients scheduled for neurosurgical operations were studied: 16 cases suffered from epilepsy were treated with carbamazepine for 24 to 180 months (carbamazepine group); the others suffered from intracranial tumors without antiepileptic treatment (noncarbamazepine group). Anesthesia was induced and maintained with target controlled with propofol 5 μ g/ml was monitored using train-of-four (TOF) stimulation. The onset time and times of muscle relaxation recovery 25%,50%,75% was recorded. Results The onset time was no difference between two groups (P＞0.05),but the times of muscle relaxation recovery 25%, 50%, 75% in carbamazepine group [(23.9±3.8 ), ( 29.2 ±4.5 ), ( 36.0 ± 5.4 ) min] were shorter than those in non-carbamazepine group [( 34.0 ± 2.8 ), (40.5 ± 4.6),( 49.9 ± 5.3 ) min] ( P ＜ 0.01 ). The recovery index in carbamazepine group [( 12.1 ± 2.9 ) min] was shorter than that in non-carbamazepine group [(15.8 ± 3.1) min](P＜0.05 ). Conclusion The duration of the rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block is significantly shortened by preceding chronic carbamazepine therapy.