Influence of stimulus frequency on blockade induced by pancuronium and rocuronium: study on rats phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of two stimulation frequencies on the installation of neuromuscular blockade produced by pancuronium and rocuronium on the rat diaphragm.
Methods: Diaphragms were submitted to an indirect frequency stimulation of 0.1 and 1 Hz (Groups I and II, respectively). Subgroups were formed (n=5) according to the neuromuscular blocker employed (pancuronium-2 microg/ml and rocuronium-4 microg/ml). The twitch height depression was evaluated at 5, 15 and 30 minutes after adding the neuromuscular blocker.
Results: The decrease in twitch height was greater (p<0.01) with a frequency of 1 Hz at all time periods studied both in preparations that are blocked with pancuronium and in those that are blocked with rocuronium.
Conclusion: The frequency of stimulation interferes significantly with the installation of neuromuscular blockade produced by pancuronium and rocuronium, since the reduction in amplitude of the rat diaphragm response was greater for 1 Hz frequencies, at all periods studied.