Absence of "recurarization" in patients with demonstrated prolonged neuromuscular block

Recovery from neuromuscular blockade. a comparison between old and young patients

Thirteen young and thirteen elderly patients undergoing elective surgery were given an anaesthetic using tubocurarine as the sole muscle relaxant. Following reversal with neostigmine, the time taken to recover from neuromuscular blockade was measured. No significant difference was found between the two groups of patients.

Neuromuscular block by circulating D-tubocurarine residue following uptake and distribution

Serum concentration of d-tubocurarine decreases rapidly after intravenous injection because of uptake and distribution. The circulating residue of an ED 50 dose of d-tubocurarine five minutes after injection will produce no block in a previously unexposed neuromuscular junction. To produce a 50 per cent block with the circulating d-tubocurarine residue in a previously unexposed neuromuscular junction requires an initial injection of 2.5 x ED 50 dose. Five minutes after a dose 5 to 6 times the ED 50, the plasma d-tubocurarine residue is sufficient to produce a total block.