Neuromuscular blockade significantly decreases systemic oxygen consumption during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

The design limits of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) equipment and the performance characteristics of membrane oxygenators may place the patient with a very large body surface area at risk for incurring an oxygen debt during CPB. The influence of resting muscle tone on systemic oxygen consumption (VO2) during hypothermic (25 to 28 degrees C) nonpulsatile CPB was calculated using the Fick equation prior to, and following, neuromuscular blockade (pancuronium, 0.15 mg/kg, n = 10; or succinylcholine, 1.5 mg/kg, n = 7). During hypothermic CPB, initial VO2 was 70 +/- 30 mL/min/m2, which was significantly reduced (by 30%) to 49 +/- 13 mL/min/m2 after onset of neuromuscular blockade, with a concomitant increase in mixed venous O2 saturation from 73% +/- 18% to 83% +/- 14%. Choice of muscle relaxant did not influence the change in VO2. With succinylcholine there was a return of VO2 to control values with recovery of neuromuscular function. This study demonstrates that in the unconscious and unmoving patient during hypothermic CPB, administration of muscle relaxants to achieve complete neuromuscular blockade can significantly reduce systemic oxygen consumption.