Neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of doxacurium in children anaesthetized with halothane.

TitleNeuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of doxacurium in children anaesthetized with halothane.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1989
AuthorsGoudsouzian NG, Alifimoff JK, Liu LM, Foster V, McNulty B, Savarese JJ
JournalBr J Anaesth
Volume62
Issue3
Pagination263-8
Date Published1989 Mar
ISSN0007-0912
KeywordsAnesthesia Recovery Period, Blood Pressure, Child, Child, Preschool, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Halothane, Heart Rate, Hemodynamics, Humans, Isoquinolines, Neuromuscular Junction, Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents, Time Factors
Abstract

The neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of doxacurium chloride (BW A938U) were evaluated in 27 children (2-12 yr) anaesthetized with 1% halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. In nine children the incremental technique was used to establish a cumulative dose-response curve by train-of-four stimulation. The remaining children received either 30 or 50 micrograms kg-1 of the drug as a single bolus. The median ED50 and ED95 of doxacurium in children were 19 and 32 micrograms kg-1, respectively. No clinically significant change in heart rate or arterial pressure occurred. Following doxacurium 30 micrograms kg-1 and 50 micrograms kg-1, recovery to 25% of control occurred in 25 (SEM 6) and 44 (3) min, respectively. The recovery index (25-75% of control) was 27 (2) min. The duration of action of doxacurium is similar to that of tubocurarine and dimethyl-tubocurarine in children. Compared with adults, children seem to require more doxacurium (microgram kg-1) to achieve a comparable degree of neuromuscular depression, and they recover more rapidly.

Alternate JournalBr J Anaesth
PubMed ID2522789