Some observations on the neuromuscular blocking action of pipecuronium in the dog

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ABSTRACT

Some observations on the neuromuscular b l o c k i n g a c t i o n o f pipecuronium i n the dog

R.S.

Jones,

U n i v e r s i t y Oept. o f Anaesthesia, Royal L i v e r p o o l H o s p i t a l , Prescot S t r e e t , P.O.

Box 147,

LIVERPOOL, L69 3BX.

Pipecuronium bromide i s an analogue o f pancuronium b u t i n c o n t r a s t t o i t there a r e no a c e t y l c h o l i n e - l i k e fragments i n the molecule. potency of 1.7 t o 3 times t h a t o f pancuroniurn.

I t has a r e p o r t e d

The neuromuscular b l o c k i n g

a c t i o n o f two doses o f t h e drug (0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg) were s t u d i e d i n t h e anaesthetised dog.

Previous work would suggest t h a t pipecuronium has a minimal

e f f e c t on t h e c a r d i o v a s c u l a r system.

However, a s i n g l e dose of 0.05 mg/kg

produced a profound hypotension i n one dog on one occasion.

The neuromuscular

b l o c k i n g e f f e c t o f t h e drug would appear t o be extremely v a r i a b l e as i n d i c a t e d by t h e wide range o f t h e r e s u l t s .

The neuromuscular b l o c k was r e a d i l y reversed

by the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f a t r o p i n e and neostigmine.