[Shortest possible muscle relaxation in children using atracurium and/or vecuronium].

The aim of this study was to monitor accelographically the impact of atracurium (A) and/or vecuronium (V) on intubation anaesthesia in infants and/or children for elective surgery or minor short-term surgery. An intra-individual evaluation is valid even though a very practical but less established monitoring method is used. Infants receiving a "priming"-dose of V 0.01 mg kg-1 BW or A 0.05 mg kg-1 BW followed 3 minutes later by a main dose of V 0.04 mg kg-1 BW or A 0.2 mg kg-1 BW were found to be in good or even very good intubation condition. These minimal doses afforded very short relaxation times, which are next in line to succinylcholin. A combination of V and A in the "priming"-technique did not lead to better conditions of any clinical relevance. Medium range non-depolarising muscle blockers, as they are available to the pediatric anesthetist nowadays, seem to compare favourable with the use of succinylcholin, which is to be considered an obsolete drug due to its various side effects.