Interaction between nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents and inhalational anesthetics.

Although many studies have presented data based on administration of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents to patients given inhalation anesthesia for 30-45 min, no data exist on the interaction in a clinical situation where the relaxant is administered immediately after the start of anesthesia. We therefore studied the effect of the commonly used inhalation anesthetics, halothane and enflurane, on the clinical pharmacology of atracurium, vecuronium, pipecuronium, and pancuronium. No significant influence of the anesthetic technique on the onset time of the various neuromuscular blocking agents was observed.

Haemodynamic effects of vecuronium.

Three hundred and twenty adults (ASA grade I, both sexes), received diazepam 10 mg by mouth (50% received atropine 7 micrograms kg-1 in addition) i.m. 45 min before operation.

Interaction between pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide.

The interaction between two non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents, pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide, has been studied at standardized levels of neuromuscular blockade and alternating the sequence of their administration, in 40 surgical patients. The drug administered first appeared invariably to play a dominant role in influencing both the dose requirements and the duration of action of the subsequent neuromuscular blocker. This resulted in reduced dose requirements and significant prolongation of action of vecuronium administered after pancuronium and increased dose requirements and shortening of neuromuscular blocking action of pancuronium given during vecuronium-induced partial neuromuscular blockade.

Three years' anaesthetic experience with the Groningen Nd YAG laser coagulation technique.

The use of the Neodymium YAG Laser technique in the palliative treatment of tracheo-bronchial tumors in 47 patients is described and the merits of the coagulation and anaesthetic techniques are discussed.