Vecuronium block in the myasthenic patient. Influence of anticholinesterase therapy.

The neuromuscular block of vecuronium was investigated in two myasthenic patients undergoing thymectomy. The first patient had no pre-operative anticholinesterase therapy, the second patient was given pyridostigmine 60 mg 4 hourly, continued until the morning of surgery. In the two patients, neuromuscular block of vecuronium was monitored by electromyography. The results suggest that the neuromuscular block of vecuronium may be decreased by pre-operative preparation of the myasthenic patient by pyridostigmine.