Variability of pipecuronium neuromuscular blockade.

The dose-response relationship and the variability of the time variables in pipercuronium neuromuscular blockade were studied in 29 patients (ASA physical status 3) during halothane anaesthesia. The ED95 (twitch tension) was determined in 9 patients using the cumulative dose response technique. Another 20 patients received the resulting ED95 as a single bolus. The mean ED95 was 35 micrograms.kg-1 (95% confidence interval: 29-41 micrograms.kg-1). Following bolus injection of 1.ED95, an 80-100% twitch depression was achieved within 4.6 +/- 1.3 min (mean +/- s.d.). The duration from end of injection of pipecuronium to 25% twitch recovery, the time from 25% to 75% twitch recovery, and the time from 25% twitch recovery to the train-of-four ratio (TOF) returning to 0.7 was 35 +/- 14, 37 +/- 26, and 63 +/- 27 min, respectively. The time from end of injection to TOF = 0.7 varied within a 2-h range (54-160 min). Thus, the time variables in pipecuronium neuromuscular blockade were as poorly predictable as those reported in the literature on pancuronium, alcuronium and doxacurium.