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Atracurium

Category:

  • Muscle relaxant

Description:

  • Nondepolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant

Indications:

  • Adjunct to general anesthesia to facilitate intubation and skeletal muscle relaxation

Contraindications:

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category C

  • Only used by skilled personnel in airway management and respiratory support.

  • Must have anticholinesterase reversal agents immediately available during use.

  • Will cause histamine release.  Use with caution in patients susceptible to histamine, such as cardiovascular disease and asthma.

  • Contains benzyl alcohol that may cause “gasping syndrome” in premature infants.

  • May cause bradycardia during anesthesia.

  • Use with caution in patients with neuromuscular disease.

  • May cause malignant hyperthermia in susceptible patients.

  • Use a peripheral nerve stimulator to monitor twitch suppression and recovery.

  • IM injection may cause tissue irritation.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Cardiovascular: hypotension (up to 14%), vasodilation (up to 9%), tachycardia (up to 5%), bradycardia

  • Dermatologic: rash, urticaria, injection-site reactions

  • Respiratory: dyspnea, broncho- and laryngospasm

Dosage:

  • Administered via IV injection (IM may cause tissue irritation)

  • Bolus:

    • Initial adult dose: 0.4-0.5mg/kg IV bolus

    • Maintenance adult dose: 0.08-0.1mg/kg every 15-25 minutes to maintain blockade

  • Pediatric dose:

    • Children > 2 years old: no adjustments needed

    • Children 1 month – 2 years old: 0.3-0.4mg/kg

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300  

 


This information is provided by The Brookside Associates.  The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

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