· . . and in the United Kingdom In a companion trial to that conducted in the

USA, patients in the United Kingdom received either atracurium besilate (n = 477) or vecuronium (484) during surgery .

The frequency of major adverse effects in surgery and in the recovery room was low; 2.5 and 3.3% of atracurium besilate and vecuronium recipients, respectively. Overall , slightly fewer atracurium besilate recipients compared with vecuronium recipients experienced adverse effects . There were no cardiac , anaphylactic or major respiratory events during surgery, and no difficulties in reversing the neuromuscular block after the operation.

'However, a difference in the rates of rarer but possibly important side effects, if they exist, could not be detected in studies of these limited sizes.' Lawson DH. Palce GM. Glavin RJ . Andrews EB. Branche C. et al Atracurlum - a POst ·marketlng surveillance study UK study and discussion British Journal of Anaesthesia 62 596-600. Jun 1989 ....