INTERACTION BETWEEN PANCURONIUM BROMIDE AND VECURONIUM BROMIDE

The interaction between two non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockingagents, pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide, has beenstudied at standardized levels of neuromuscular blockade andalternating the sequence of their administration, in 40 surgicalpatients. The drug administered first appeared invariably toplay a dominant role in influencing both the dose requirementsand the duration of action of the subsequent neuromuscular blocker.This resulted in reduced dose requirements and significant prolongationof action of vecuronium administered after pancuronium and increaseddose requirements and shortening of neuromuscular blocking actionof pancuronium given during vecuronium-induced partial neuromuscularblockade. Possible mechanisms of such interaction are discussed.