Infusion of amino acid enriched solution hastens recovery from neuromuscular block caused by vecuronium

Abstract

We investigated the effect of an amino acid infusion on neuromuscular block produced by vecuronium, and on rectal temperature and surface temperature over the adductor pollicis muscle. Sixty adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia were randomly divided into four groups of 15 patients each: amino acid (AA)-post-tetanic count (PTC); AA-train-of-four (TOF); control (C)-PTC; or C-TOF group. In the AA-PTC and AA-TOF groups, after a bolus of vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1), a continuous infusion of an 18 amino acid enriched solution (AMIPAREN) was started at a rate of 166 kJ h(-1). In the C-PTC and C-TOF groups, normal saline was administered. Time from vecuronium to the return of the PTC in the AA-PTC group was significantly shorter than in the C-PTC group (mean (SD), 13.3 (4.5) versus 18.0 (5.6) min, P<0.05). Times to return of T1, T2, T3, and T4 (first, second, third, and fourth twitch of TOF) in the AA-TOF group were significantly shorter than in the C-TOF group (21.1 (4.5) versus 28.0 (8.2) min for T1, P<0.05). PTC in the AA-PTC group was significantly greater than in the C-PTC group; 25-35 min after administration of vecuronium (P<0.05). T1/T0 and T4/T1 in the AA-TOF group were significantly higher than in the C-TOF group, 40-120 and 50-120 min after vecuronium respectively (P<0.05). Rectal temperature and surface temperature over the adductor pollicis muscle in the AA-PTC and AA-TOF groups were significantly higher than in the control groups 50-120 and 100-120 min after vecuronium respectively (P<0.05). Infusion of amino acid enriched solution hastens recovery from neuromuscular block.