Vecuronium-associated axonal motor neuropathy: a variant of critical illness polyneuropathy?

Neuromuscular blocking agents are routinely used as an adjunct therapy for critically ill patients. Unlike many neuromuscular blocking agents, vecuronium does not cause significant histamine release, which may lead to bronchoconstriction. Due to a short duration of action and limited accumulation, vecuronium has been widely used. Prolonged ventilatory dependence due to persistent neuromuscular blockade has been reported in patients treated with vecuronium. We report a case of an 8-year-old girl who had a primarily motor axonopathy presenting with weakness after extended vecuronium administration with prolonged course of recovery. This primarily motor neuropathy with axonal features may be a variant of critical illness polyneuropathy, a rarely reported condition in pediatric patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.