Study objective: To determine the influence of aging on the efficacy and safety of doxacurium.
Design: Open, randomized, phase III study.
Setting: Inpatient ophthalmic surgery clinic at a university medical center.
Patients: 30 elderly patients (65 years or older) compared with a control group of 30 younger patients (18 to 64 years).
Interventions: An elective ophthalmological surgical intervention of more than 2 hours' expected duration with general anesthesia with isoflurane.
Measurements and main results: Neuromuscular function after a bolus dose of doxacurium was monitored electromyographically. No significant difference was observed in maximum block achieved or onset time. Clinical duration of neuromuscular block was similar in both groups. Hemodynamic changes were clinically unimportant.
Conclusion: The use of doxacurium in elderly patients is possible with no need for dose adjustment. Doxacurium might be a good choice for patients with cardiac disease who are scheduled for long surgical procedures.