Vecuronium

Vecuronium In Dogs & Cats: Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Overview

• Inhibits the actions of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction by binding competitively to the alpha subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the postjunctional membrane.

Uses of Vecuronium

• Provision of neuromuscular blockade during anaesthesia.
• Improve surgical access through muscle relaxation, to facilitate positive pressure ventilation or for intraocular surgery.

Dose of Vecuronium in Dogs and Cats

Dogs, Cats:

• 0.1 mg/kg initially produces neuromuscular blockade for 25–30 min.
• The block can be maintained by increments of 0.03 mg/kg or a constant rate infusion of 0.1–0.2 mg/kg/h.
• Lower loading doses of 0.05 mg/kg i.v. produce neuromuscular blockade of shorter
  duration (16–19 min).

Side Effects of Vecuronium in Dogs and Cats

• No information is available.

Contraindications of Vecuronium in Dogs and Cats

• Do not administer unless the animal is adequately anaesthetized and facilities to provide positive pressure ventilation are available.

Some Notes:

• Neuromuscular blockade is more prolonged when vecuronium is given in combination with volatile anaesthetics, aminoglycosides, clindamycin and lincomycin.
• Vecuronium has an intermediate dose-dependent duration of action, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
• It does not affect cardiovascular function and does not trigger histamine release.
• Monitoring with a nerve stimulator and reversal of neuromuscular blockade are recommended to ensure complete recovery before the end of anesthesia.
• Prolonged duration of neuromuscular blockade may occur in conditions like hypothermia, acidosis, and hypokalemia.
• Repeated doses in healthy animals are relatively non-cumulative, and it can be administered intravenously via infusion to maintain neuromuscular blockade.
• Vecuronium is metabolized by the liver; thus, atracurium is preferred over vecuronium in animals with liver dysfunction.
• The duration of action of vecuronium is shorter in diabetic dogs compared to non-diabetic ones, but the reasons for this difference are unclear.
• This shorter duration may be clinically significant when using vecuronium for neuromuscular blockade in diabetic dogs undergoing ocular surgery.
• Sugammadex, a cyclodextrin developed to reverse neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium, can also reverse vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in dogs at a dose of 8 mg/kg intravenously.