Korean J Anesthesiol.  1979 Mar;12(1):27-33.

"Precurarization" using d-Tubocurarine , Gallamine and Pancuronium - A Comparative Study

• Hwang HS
• Park DH
• Kim MY
• Kim WS

Abstract

The depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent succinylcholine, which was synthesized by Hunt and Taveau in 1906, is still regarded as the drug of choice when speed of onset and good intubating conditions matter most. This agent has several disadvantages, some of which may be unpredictable, serious and immediate, for example, muscle pain, bradycardia, rise in intragastric pressure, increase in intraocular pressure and elevation of serum potassium. These disadvantages may be regarded as the side effects of depolarization and indicate a need for a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent with rapid onset and good muscle relaxation. Simpson et al. described the neuromuscular blocking properties of the nondepolarizing .neuromuscular blocking agent, Fazadinium (AH 8165) in 1972. This initial work indicated a more rapid onset of action than occurs with succinyleholine and without muscle fasciculation or concomitant rise in plasma potassium concentration. However, Coleman et al., Young, t al., Hartley and Fidler, and Metha et al., concluded that using succinylcholine, a ignificantly greater number of patients had excellent intubating conditions at predetermined times after administration than when using Fazadinium. Several reports have indicated that administration of a small dose of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents would markedly diminish the fasciculation and muscle pains which so frequently occur, when succinylcholine is given. Many other reports have indicated that administration of a small dose of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents could attenuate or eliminate the adverse effects of succinylcholine such as increased intra-gastric pressure and intraocular pressure, bradycardia, arrhythmia and hyperkalemia. Several investigators have recommended that when small doses of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking aKent are given before succinylcholine administration, larger doses of succinylcholine should be given to achieve satisfactory relaxation. A comparative study using d-tubocurarine, gallamine and pancuronium for precurarization indicates that any of them successfully attenuates fasciculation. They have a little antagonizing effect of vocal cord relaxation after succinylcholine administration, but there was no difficulty during endotracheal intubation.

MeSH Terms

Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Bradycardia
Fasciculation
Gallamine Triethiodide*
Humans
Hyperkalemia
Intraocular Pressure
Intubation, Intratracheal
Muscle Relaxation
Myalgia
Neuromuscular Blockade
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Pancuronium*
Plasma
Potassium
Relaxation
Research Personnel
Succinylcholine
Tubocurarine*
Vocal Cords
Gallamine Triethiodide
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Pancuronium
Potassium
Succinylcholine
Tubocurarine