pancuronium and Contracture

We report three infants paralysed with pancuronium bromide as an adjunct to mechanical ventilation, who developed multiple joint contractures. In two term infants, gentamicin and phenobarbitone given together with pancuronium may have potentiated its effect, and in one preterm infant contractures, which became more severe after paralysis, were present at birth.

Topics: Contracture; Drug Synergism; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Pancuronium; Respiration, Artificial

Topics: Contracture; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Joints; Pancuronium

In a study of human malignant hyperpyrexia-susceptible muscle a comparison between pancuronium and methylprednisolone showed that both drugs produced qualitatively similar depression of the halothane-induced muscle contracture. From this and other evidence, it is suggested that pancuronium is a suitable drug for use in malignant hyperpyrexia-susceptible patients.

Topics: Anesthesia; Contracture; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Halothane; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Malignant Hyperthermia; Methylprednisolone; Muscle Contraction; Pancuronium