Potency of atracurium and vecuronium at the diaphragm and the adductor pollicis muscle.

Train-of-four stimulation was applied to the ulnar and phrenic nerves in 18 adult patients anaesthetized with nitrous oxide and halothane in oxygen. The response of the adductor pollicis and the diaphragm were measured. Incremental doses of atracurium and vecuronium were given, with an infusion to replace drug lost by elimination or distribution. The mean (SEM) doses of atracurium associated with 50% and 90% depression of response to the first stimulation in the train-of-four (ED50 and ED90) were 90 (9) and 133 (10) micrograms kg-1 at the adductor pollicis, and 130 (9) and 245 (17) micrograms kg-1 at the diaphragm, respectively. The mean (SEM) ED50 and ED90 of vecuronium were 25 (2) and 38 (4) micrograms kg-1 at the adductor pollicis and 34 (3) and 58 (5) micrograms kg-1 at the diaphragm, respectively. The mean (SEM) ED50 ratios were 1.56 (0.16) for atracurium and 1.47 (0.16) for vecuronium. ED90 ratios were 1.93 (0.29) and 1.55 (0.17) for atracurium and vecuronium, respectively. It is concluded that both atracurium and vecuronium exhibit a similar degree of sparing of the diaphragm.