Abstract
Nondepolarizing muscle relaxants are being used with increasing frequency in neonatal intensive care units. However, information concerning the chronic use of these agents and their dose requirement is lacking. We examined dose requirements of d-tubocurarine and metocurine in neonates in whom respiratory paralysis was used as an adjunct to mechanical ventilation. All infants with gestational age≧38 wk demonstrated a dramatic daily increase in dose requirement of metocurine during the initial 8 days. However, infants with gestational age ≦33 wk did not demonstrate a statistically significant daily increase in dose requirement. The 4 infants who received metocurine for more than 10 days exhibited a plateau of the dose requirement after 8–10 days. In contrast to the infants receiving metocurine, infants who received d-tubocurarine did not demonstrate a significant change in daily dose requirement. Four infants who received metocurine and four who received d-tubocurarine had acute renal failure and were not included in the above analysis. These infants had a significantly decreased dose requirement compared to the expected dose requirement for infants of comparable gestational age. There was no relationship between the dose requirement and the pH, serum potassium, or the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call