INFLUENCE OF AGE AND GENDER ON THE PHARMACODYNAMIC PARAMETERS OF ROCURONIUM DURING TOTAL INTRAVENOUS ANESTHESIA

Aims: To compare the pharmacodynamics of 0.6 mg kg-1 rocuronium in young and older patients of both genders during total intravenous anesthesia. Methods: Following local ethics committee approval and informed consent, patients scheduled for surgery under total intravenous anesthesia (propofol/sufentanil) were divided into 4 study groups: 37 males aged 20-40, 40 males aged 60-75 yrs, 43 females aged 20-40 and 38 females aged 60-75 yrs. Neuromuscular block following rocuronium (0.6 mg kg-1) was monitored: train-of-four [TOF] stimulation of the ulnar nerve at 15-s intervals, EMG of the adductor pollicis muscle. The onset time (from application of rocuronium to maximum depression of T1), clinical duration (from application to 25% recovery of T1), and time to full spontaneous recovery (from application to TOF-ratio ≥ 0.9) were determined for each patient. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare differences between groups; P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The onset time (median [interquartile range]) in the respective groups was 90 [80-110]BCD, 135 [116-165]AC, 75 [60-90]ABD, and 120 [90-146]AC seconds. The clinical duration was 30 [25-42]BCD, 58 [53-67]AD, 50 [40-65]AD, and 85 [70-90]ABC min. Interval to full spontaneous recovery was 59 [51-67]BCD, 102 [75-106]A, 76 [66-91]AD, and 128 [94-137]AC min. (AP<0.05 vs. young males, BP<0.05 vs. elderly males, CP<0.05 vs. young females, DP<0.05 vs. elderly females). Conclusion: Females and older patients were more sensitive to rocuronium.