Neuromuscular blockade profile of pipec - uronium in patients with liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the neuromuscular blockade profile of pipecuronium in 20 patients suffering from hepatic cirrhosis and divided equally into two groups [a control healthy group and hepatic group submitted to operations to relieve portal hypertension]. All patients were subjected to general anesthesia induced by thiopentone sodium 5 mg/kg, followed by pipecuronium 0.06 mg/kg to facilitate endotracheal intubation and maintained by N2O O2 [2 1] and halothane 0.5-1.0% with 0.01 mg/kg of pipecuronium as maintenance relaxation doses. Endotracheal intubation was successfully performed when TI ratio reached 10% and TOF ratio approximately reached 0% as traced by Datex relaxograph. The onset of action of pipecuronium, duration of clinical relaxation of bolus dose and total dose requirements were measured