Abstract
The possible cardiovascular and renal effects of pancuronium were investigated by comparing results from 18 infants selectively paralysed to prevent pneumothoraces (1) and 11 control infants, non-paralysed matched for gestational and postnatal age. There was no significant difference in blood pressure (BP) comparing measurements immediately before and 15 and 30 minutes after paralysis, neither was there a significant difference in BP between the two groups during the first 7 postnatal days. During paralysis there was a complete loss of beat-to-beat variation on the continuous heart rate recordings, this was not seen in any of the controls. Despite increasing fluids from a mean of 40-160 mls/kg in the control group in the first week there was a steady weight gain (approx 10% of birth weight by day 7). However, amongst paralysed babies, despite relative fluid restriction (increasing fluids from 40-100mls/kg only by day 7) weight loss did not occur and the group was above birth weight by day 7. In the paralysed babies there was an increasing urine osraolality on day 3 and 4 and peripheral oedema. No paralysed baby died, or developed either a pneumothorax or renal failure.. We conclude selective paralysis is an effective method of preventing pneumothoraces (1) but is associated with fluid retention.
(1) Greenough A.et al Lancet, i, 1-4. 1984
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Greenough, A., Gamsu, H. INVESTIGATION OF THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF PANCURONIUM IN PRETERM VENTILATED NEONATES. Pediatr Res 22, 242 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00172
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00172