Effect of tubocurarine on respiratory and nonrespiratory muscle power in man

¹ Department of Anaesthesia II, Cardio-Respiratory Laboratory, Copenhagen County Hospital in Gentofte, Hellerup, and Danish National Association for Infantile Paralysis, Hellerup, Denmark

On human volunteers the degree of muscular depression in respiratory power and handgrip strength was determined when ability to raise the head was almost or completely abolished by (+) tubocurarine. In one series the course of restitution after maximal depression of head lift, handgrip, maximal inspiratory and expiratory flows were compared. In the second series measurements of maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures replaced those of maximal flows. In all experiments the respiratory functions were consistently much less affected than head lift and handgrip. Of the two last mentioned the power in head lift was always most affected. The results suggest that, in normal man, respiratory muscle power is relatively well preserved when curarization is carried to the point where the ability to raise the head is nearly abolished and the strength in handgrip is severely retarded.

Submitted on November 15, 1963