DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i01.008

Pages: 40-46

Background and Aims: Vecuronium and Cisatracurium are two intermediate acting neuromuscular blocking agents currently in clinical use. Studies comparing their various effects, to determine which agent offers greater advantage are limited. We aim to compare the time of onset, intubating conditions, duration of action and time taken for recovery from neuromuscular blockade produced by each drug in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This was a randomised controlled double blinded study. After institutional ethical clearance, 60 patients of ASA physical status I and II were enrolled in the study. And divided into two groups. Group V received vecuronium at 0.1mg/kg loading dose and 0.02 mg/kg as maintenance. Group C received 0.15mg/kg of Cisatracurium as loading dose and 0.03 mg/kg as maintenance. The technique of general anesthesia was standardized for both groups. The primary outcome measured was the time taken for onset of action of neuromuscular blocker defined as the loss of all four twitch responses to a supramaximal Train of Four stimulus. The secondary outcomes measured were the intubating conditions, duration of action and time taken for recovery. The statistical package used was RStudio. Both groups were well matched for demographic data. Time of onset of action was significantly less in Group V compared to Group C. Intubating conditions in both groups showed no difference statistically. Duration of action was significantly greater in Group C. But time taken for recovery was significantly greater in Group V. Although vecuronium offers quicker onset and lesser duration of action after a loading dose compared to Cisatracurium, recovery from multiple doses is significantly faster following Cisatracurium. This offers definite advantage in cases of hepatic and renal compromise and in the elderly.