The New Relaxants: Are They Worth It? David 1L Bevan MB MRCP FRCA
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R88 REFRESHER COURSE OUTLINE The new relaxants: are they worth it? David 1L Bevan MB MRCP FRCA UCH of the current neuromuscular and seems to be nearly as rapid as succinylcholine s drug development prOgrams are con- (Table II). The quick onset of succinylcholine is relat- cerned with the search for a replace- ed to its prompt metabolism and plasma clearance. M ment for the rapid onset, short When metabolism is impaired, i.e. in the presence of duration succinylcholine. This has led to re-evaluation atypical cholinesterase, the onset is also slower. 4 and re-definition of muscle relaxants by the FDA Similarly, the onset of action of mivacurium is consid- according to their onset and duration of action in a erably increased in the presence of atypical plasma dose of 2 x ED9s (Table I). ~ It is unlikely that any neu- cholineseterase, s romuscular blocking drug will be introduced into clin- After iv administration of NMBDs, peak plasma ical practice unless it is almost free of cardiovascular concentrations are achieved almost immediately. activity. The purpose of this presentation is to describe However, when subparalyzing doses are given, maxi- factors leading to the development of new drugs and mum block may not be achieved for 5-7 min. This to review the pharmacology of the recently introduced delay has led to the concept that the neuromuscular intermediate-acting neuromuscular blocking drugs - junction lies within a compartment (effect compart- rocuronium, mivacurium, cisatracurium and rapacuro- ment) separate from plasma or central compartment, nium. One of the problems in the development of the where drug effect is related to concentration. Access "Ideal Relaxant" is cost. An attempt will be made to from the central compartment to this effect compart- put the price of muscle relaxants into perspective. ment is controlled by a rate constant, k o.6 Onset of action is inversely proportional to k~o - drugs with Onset of Action higher kr have a more rapid onset (Table III). 7 Onset depends on the arrival at the receptor of suffi- The time to maximal block is almost independent cient molecules either to produce depolarization of of dose if < 100% block is attained. In doses producing the endplate (depolarizing NMBDs) or to prevent total paralysis, the latter is achieved before the maxi- acetylcholine from reaching enough receptors to cause mal effect at the junction. The time to disappearance neuromuscular transmission (non-depolarizing of twitch decreases with increasing dose. Clinicians NMBDs). Speed of onset is affected mainly by the rate using non-depolarizing drugs to facilitate tracheal of delivery of the drug to the junction. It is modified intubation may use larger doses than necessary to by drug potency and its metabolism. The onset of accelerate the production of good/excellent intubat- non-depolarizing relaxants is inversely proportional to ing conditions. their potency. 2 Thus, of the five recently introduced relaxants - doxacurium, mivacurium, pipecuronium, Pharmacology of the new drugs rocuronium, cisatracurium, the most potent, dox- acurium (EDs0 0.015 mg-kgq) has the slowest onset Rocuronium (10 - 15 min) and the least potent, roccuronium Rocuronium was developed from a series of monoqua- (EDs0 0.15 mg.kg-Z), the most rapid (1.5 - 2.5 min) ternary aminosteroids because of its rapid onset of TABLE I FDA definitions of neuromuscular blocking drugs according to onset and clinical duration (time to T,s) after 2 x ED9s dose (After FDA, 1995q) ONSET- rain CLINICAL DURATION- rain Ultra-rapid Rapid Inter-mediate Slow Ultra-short Short Inter-mediate Long <1 1 - 2 2 - 4 ~ 4 < 4 4- 20 20-50 >50 From the Department of Anesthesia, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Centre, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4E3 Canada. CAN J ANESTH 1999 / 46:5 / pp R88-R94 Bevan: THE NEW RELAXANTS R89 action and absence of cardiovascular side effects in ani- tram (57.4%), cis-trans (36.2%) and cis-cis (6.4%) of mals. In humans, it is about one sixth as potent as which the last is pharmacologically inactive. It is a vecuronium and has a more rapid onset of action, potent, non- depolarizing relaxant (ED9s: 60-80 although this is slower than after succinylcholine.8 }ag.kg-1 in adults 12 and 90-100/ag.kg -1 in children, is Nevertheless, tracheal intubating conditions 60 sec after (Table II). The onset of action is not as rapid as suc- rocuronium (0.6 mg.kg-1 [2 x ED9s]) were similar to cinylcholine but recovery is quick due to metabolism those produced by succinylcholine (1 mg.kg-1 x by plasma cholinesterase. The rate of recovery is twice EDgs]). 9 Optimal intubating conditions after rocuronl- as rapid as that from vecuronium or atracufium and is um, as for other neuromuscular relaxants, occur before similar whether administered by bolus or by continu- maximal block is obtained in the peripheral thumb mus- ous infusion to maintain the neuromuscular block. des probably because the laryngeal muscles have an ear- Recovery is so rapid that acceleration by anti- lier onset of effect, l~ When given in large doses, 1.2 cholinesterases is very small so that routine reversal mg.kg-1, intubation conditions 30 sec after administra- may not be necessary. However, if patients are trans- tion were similar to those after 1.5 mg.kg-1 succinyl- ferred to PACU soon after the end of surgery, they choline although the clinical duration was prolonged to may exhibit residual weakness if reversal agents are 46 min. n Apart from its more rapid onset of action, the avoided, i4 Edrophonium is preferred to neostigmine pharmacodynamic behaviour of rocuronium is similar as the latter inhibits plasma cholinesterase and may to vecuronium in duration, recovery and reversal. It is prolong the block. Recovery is considerably pro- potentiated by inhalational anesthetics and the onset longed (> six hours) in patients with atypical plasma and duration of action are prolonged in the elderly. cholinesterase 27 even after small test doses of 0.014 Rocuronium is excreted in the urine and its elimination mg.kg-i,s and the infusion rate required to maintain is decreased in patients with renal failure. constant block is correlated with the plasma cholinesterase activity. Mivacurium is rapidly cleared Mivacurium from the plasma but more slowly in patients undergo- Mivacurium is a bisquaternary benzylisoquinoline ing hepatic transplantation due to the decreased plas- compound consisting of three stereoisomers: trans- ma cholinesterase synthesis. Mivacurium is potentiated by isoflurane and by enflurane. If mivac- urium is given rapidly, over 10-15 sec, it is followed by TABLE II Typicalneuromuscular activity of non-depolarizing a brief, < 5 min, decrease in systolic blood pressure, blocking drugs. cutaneous erythema and histamine release. Is Usually, Potency (ED9s), Onset to maximum effect,25-75% Recovery. the hypotension is mild but in some patients may be Index (RI), and time to 25% T l recovery(Tg0) after 2 x EDgs severe enough to require treatment with vasopressors. dose in adults. EDgs lag.kg-l Onset 25-75% Cisatracurium Recovery Recovery 25% T 1 Atracurium consists of 10 stereoisomers: cisatracurium MAn index - min min Rapacuronium 750 1 - 1.5 10- 15 12 - 20 is one and comprises approximately 15% of the mix- dTC 500 5 - 6 25 - 35 70 90 rare. It is approximately four times as potent as Atracurium 200 5 - 6 10 - 15 25 35 atracurium (Table II) and has been developed because Cisatracurium 50 7 - 8 8 - 9 25 3O it does not release histamine. There are no clinical car- Doxacurium 25 10- 14 30- 50 80 100 diovascular effects in doses exceeding the clinical range Metocurine 280 4 - 6 30 - 40 8O 9O Mivacurium 80 - 150 2 - 3 10 - 15 15 20 and it does not produce cutaneous flushing. 16 It has a Pancuronium 60 4 - 5 25 - 30 50 60 slightly slower onset than atracurium, probably a result Pipecuronium 60 5 - 6 30 - 40 80 90 of its increased potency, but a slightly more rapid Rocuronium 300 2 - 3 10 - 15 25 35 recovery. It is metabolized, like atracurium, by Vecuronium 80 4 - 5 10 - 15 25 35 Hoffmann clearance. However, only 23% of the elimi- nation is organ dependent compared with 61% for atracurium. Cisatracurium, like atracuri ,um, demon- TABLE III Relationship between onset of action and kco.Q strates considerable synergism with aminosteroids such keo (min -~) as rocuronium. 17 Cisatracurium has few advantages adductor pollicis laryngeal adductors over atracurium other than the absence of cardiovascu- Rapacuronium 0.41 0.63 lar effects and histamine release. Its current popularity Rocuronium 0.17 0.26 in North America is more a reflection of attractive pric- Vecuronium 0.12 0.18 ing than superior pharmacological activity. R90 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIA TABLE IV Intubation 90 sec after succinylcholine or mivacuriumw Increasing the dose of any non-depolarizing relaxant Intubation TOF accelerates the appearance of maximum block and @ 90 sec count acceptable intubating conditions but at the price of Excellent Good 0 4 considerable delay in recovery. Succinylcholine 1 mg.kg-l: dTc 50 pg.kg-1 - 3 min 97 81 10 53 43 Divided doses - ~priming" ~timing" Mivacurium 0.25 mg.kg-1 divided: Although onset can be accelerated with small "prim- 0.15 & 0.1 mg.kg-1 @30 sec 91 51 38 2 88 ing" doses of non-depolarizing relaxant three minutes before the main dose, the effect is small. Priming car- ties the risk of aspiration and difficulty in swallowing, and visual disturbances are uncomfortable for the patient. The practice has largely been superseded by Rapaeuronium the introduction of rocuronium. The latest in the aminosteroid series of neuromuscular Attempts to make use of the rapid recovery of relaxants is rapacuronium and it is currently undergo- mivacurium have included administration of 0.15 and ing pre-clinical evaluation.