This Article Résumé de cet Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a scholarly reply Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pühringer, F. K. Articles by Keller, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pühringer, F. K. Articles by Keller, C. Related Collections General Anesthesia

Smoking does not alter the dose-requirements and the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium

From the Department of Anaesthesia and General Intensive Care Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

Address correspondence to: Univ. Prof. Dr. Friedrich K. Pühringer. Phone: 43-512-504-4319; Fax: 43-512-504-2450; E-mail: friedrich.puehringer{at}uibk.ac.at

Purpose: Controversial data about the effect of smoking on the dose-requirements and the pharamcodynamics of rocuronium have been reported recently. This study was conducted to evaluate the dose-requirements and the pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in smokers using target controlled infusion.

Methods: The dose-requirements of rocuronium for 60 min relaxation, using target controlled infusion, given under intravenous anaesthesia with propofol, fentanyl and nitrous oxide was studied in 37 smokers and 37 non-smokers. Initially 450 µg•kg^–1 rocuronium were administered, neuromuscular effects were quantified by recording the single twitch response of the adductor pollicis muscle after ulnar nerve stimulation using a force transducer, and the neuromuscular block was kept at 80% by target controlled infusion throughout the procedure.

Results: The dose-requirements for one hour relaxation were 867 ± 116 µg•kg^–1•hr^–1 for smokers (S) and 839 ± 149 µg•kg^–1•hr^–1 for non-smokers (NS). The duration to 10% and the spontaneous recovery from 25% to 75% of the control twitch response also showed no differences between S (17.2 ± 3.4 min, 10.6 ± 0.9 min ) and NS (18.9 ± 4.3 min, 10.9 ± 3.2 min), as well as maximum block, onset time and infusion rate.

Conclusion: Smoking does not alter the dose-requirements for rocuronium and no effects on the onset time, degree of block, time to maximum block, duration 10% and spontaneous recovery index were observed.