This paper presents pharmacodynamic data for pancuronium in neonates, infants, children and adolescents during N2O-O2 fentanyl anaesthesia. Neuromuscular block (NMB) was evaluated by the adductor pollicis electromyogram. Dose-response curves of pancuronium were parallel in all age-groups. ED95 was greatest in children and least in infants (93 vs. 66 μg/kg, P<0.05). The rate of spontaneous recovery following 95% NMB was comparable in all age-groups, as was the maintenance requirement of pancuronium when related to ED-values. The hourly requirement to maintain NMB > 85% was 60–68% of the individual ED95 dose. When administered on this basis, pancuronium is an equally long-acting neuromuscular blocking agent in patients of all ages.
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