Reduced hypoxic chemosensitivity in partially paralysed man. A new property of muscle relaxants? |
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Authors: | L. I. Eriksson M.D. Ph.D. |
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Affiliation: | Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Stockholm, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Background: It was hypothesized that non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents impair hypoxic chemosensitivity in man. Methods: In thirty randomly allocated male volunteers the hypoxic and hypercarbic ventilatory responses were measured during partial paralysis (TOF ratio 0.70) due to either atracurium (n=10), pancuronium (n=10) or vecuronium (n=10). Results: Hypoxic ventilatory responses were depressed by 306, 287 and 296% (mean SD) at steady-state infusion of atracurium, pancuronium and vecuronium, respectively. At a TOF ratio of >0.90, the HVR was not different from control measurements. Conclusion: It is concluded that non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents impair hypoxic ventilatory regulation. Further experimental studies are warranted to fully describe the mechanism(s) responsible for this interaction. |
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Keywords: | Carotid body chemosensitivity hypercarbia hypoxia neuromuscular blocking agents pancuronium vecuronium atracurium |
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