Abstract
To determine the differences between men and women in the dose-response curve and the time-course of effect of vecuronium, we studied 60 adult patients (30 male and 30 female), ASA I, age 18-51 yr, undergoing elective plastic surgery. Anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide 60% in oxygen; thiopentone and incremental doses of fentanyl were given as required. Neuromuscular function was assessed mechanomyographically using the train-of-four (TOF) stimulation at the wrist every 12 s. The percentage depression of T1 was used as the study variable. The dose-response relationship of vecuronium was determined by a cumulative dose-response technique. The dose-response curve in men was shifted in a parallel fashion to the right, indicating a decrease in the sensitivity to vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block, compared with women. The ED50, ED90 and ED95 of vecuronium were 23.9 (4.7), 45.4 (11.2) and 55.7 (14.3) micrograms kg-1 in men and 18.4 (3.7), 33.5 (7.8) and 39.8 (9.6) micrograms kg-1 in women respectively. There were statistically significant differences in these values between the two groups (P
Published Version
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