Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 19, 412-420, Copyright © 1972 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

A Clinical Study of Pancuronium, A New Muscular Relaxant for Abdominal Surgery

¹ Department of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation, Laval University

Body weight and the dose of Pancuronium are two factors which influence the duration of its effect, but at least one other factor intervenes. A study of the regression of several factors on the variation of dosages confirms the conclusion, that age is the third factor which, in combination with weight and dose, determines duration of action of Pancuronium.

It is the association of these three factors which permits one to predict the duration of the initial dose, while each factor by itself alone cannot do so.

Weight predicts up to 25%

Dose predicts up to 35% 61%

Age predicts up to 10% 71%

It follows that a prediction taking into consideration only weight and dose is 61 per cent reliable, while the combination of all three factors constitutes a prediction of the initial dose which has a 71 per cent probability of being correct.

In order now to determine the total dose of Pancuronium required in any one particular instance it is still the interaction of these three factors which provides the most efficient method.

However the weighs by itself could be used as a good criterion for the calculation of total dosage as it contributes 62 per cent to the prediction. The age of the patient and the length of the operation are also factors to be considered although they are of lesser importance, contributing only another 5 per cent and 16 per cent respectively to a total predictability of 83 per cent.

Note:

Pavulon®, Organon.

Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Anaesthetists' Society, June 29, Château Frontenac, Quebec.