Precurarización con rocuronio y d-tubocurarina: otra perspectiva / Precurarization with rocuronium and d-tubocurarine

Objetivo: Estudiar la precurarización de la succinilcolina utilizando d-tubocurarina y rocuronio introduciendo los métodos restrictivo, conceptos de velocidad de acción y recuperación y una nueva semiología para evaluar las fasciculaciones. Material y método: Se administraron succinilcolina (1 mg x Kg-1) (n =21) sola o precedida por rocuronio o d-tubocurarina (60 ó 50 ug x Kg-1) (n =21 c/u), determinándose: la fase inicial de comienzo hasta 80 por ciento de bloqueo, tiempo de comienzo, máximo efecto, duración clínica, tiempo de reversión espontánea entre 10 por ciento y 25 por ciento y 25 por ciento a 50 por ciento. Se calculó la velocidad de acción (inicial, final y global) como la relación tiempo/bloqueo fraccionado y la velocidad de recuperación. El método restrictivo fue empleado para el estudio del tiempo de comienzo, utilizando un rango restringido de bloqueo. Las fasciculaciones fueron evaluadas por su intensidad en seis regiones anatómicas por cuatro observadores imparciales e independientes y las medias de sus valoraciones utilizadas para analizarlas. Resultados: Aparentemente ambos desfasciculantes prolongan la fase inicial, tiempo de comienzo y velocidad de la succinilcolina, pero el método restrictivo únicamente lo confirmó para el tiempo de comienzo y la velocidad global. La velocidad inicial fue más rápida que la final. El rocuronio redujo el efecto y la duración clínica e incrementó la velocidad de recuperación de la succinilcolina. Las fasciculaciones fueron más frecuentes e intensas en el tronco y miembro superior izquierdo, pero los precurarizantes las redujeron tanto en intensidad como localización Discusión: La precurarización no modifica la fase inicial de comienzo, surgiendo la posibilidad de practicar una intubación temprana. Debido al acortamiento que provoca la precurarización con rocuronio se hace evidente la necesidad precoz de nuevas dosis de relajantes.

Objective: To study the precurarization of succinylcholine with d-tubocurarine and rocuronium, using the restrictive method, speed of action and recovery principles and a particular evaluation for fasciculations Material & Methods: Patients received succinylcholine (1 mg x Kg-1) (n =21) either alone or preceded by d-tubocurarine or rocuronium (60 ó 50 micron g x Kg-1) (n =21 e/a), and the following clinical measurements were made: earlyphase of onset time (up to 80 percent blockade), onset time, maximal block, clinical duration and recovery time between 10 percent and 25 percent and 25 percent to 50 percent. Speed of action (initial, final and global)as the ratio between time and fractional blockade and speed of recovery, were calculated. Restrictive method was used for the study of the entire onset time on patients included in a limited range of final block. Intensity of fasciculations was evaluated by four independent observers blind to the drugs used in six anatomical regions and their mean values used for analysis. Results: Apparently, precurarizing drugs prolonged initial phase, onset time and reduced speed for succinylcholine, but only onset time and global speed were confirmed by restrictive method. After rocuronium, maximal effect as well as clinical duration of succinylcholine werereduced and speed of recovery increased. Fasciculations were more frequent and intense at the trunk and left upper arm, but precurarization reduced both intensity and localization prevalence. Discussion: As lack of changes on the initial phase of onset time for succinylcholine inducedby precurarization was noticed, an early tracheal intubation could be contemplated. Due to reduction on clinical duration after rocuronium,new doses of muscle relaxants are sooner necessary. The present method for evaluation of fasciculations shows how far they are spread and how effective precurarization was, given rise to doubts on previous results.

Effects of neuromuscular blocking agents on central respiratory chemosensitivity in newborn rats

Neuromuscular blocking agents suppress central respiratory activity through their inhibitory effects on preinspiratory neurons and the synaptic drive from preinspiratory neurons to inspiratory neurons. Central CO2-chemosensitive areas, which partly consist of CO2-excited neurons, in the rostral ventrolateral medulla are thought to provide tonic drive to the central respiratory network and involve cholinergic mechanisms, which led us to hypothesize that neuromuscular blocking agents can inhibit CO2-excited neurons and attenuate respiratory CO2 responsiveness. To test this hypothesis, we used isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparations from newborn rats. The increase of C4 burst frequency induced by a hypercapnic superfusate, i.e. respiratory CO2 responsiveness, was suppressed by the application of neuromuscular blocking agents, either d-tubocurarine (10, 100M) or vecuronium (100M). These agents (40M) also induced hyperpolarization and decreases in firing frequency of CO2-excited neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. Our results demonstrate that neuromuscular blocking agents inhibit CO2-excited tonic firing neurons and attenuate respiratory CO2 responsiveness.

effect of pre-operative acute hemodilution on the dose requirements of d-tubo-curarine in patients submitted for radical cystectomy

The effect of acute normovolaemic haemodilution [AHD] on the dose requirements of d-tubocurarine was studied in patients submitted for radical cystectomy. They were randomly classified into two groups. Group I [n=10] were given homologous blood [control group], and group II [n=20] were subjected to AHD before induction of anaesthesia. The dose of d-tubocurarine decreased significantly in group II despite the longer duration of action when compared to group I. There was no significant correlation between the dose of d-tubocurarine [mg. kg.[-1] hr.[-1]] required and haemoglobin conc., globulins and albumin in both groups whether before or after anaesthesia and surgery