Paolo Feltracco1, Tommaso Tonetti2, Stefania Barbieri2, Anna Chiara Frigo3, Carlo Ori2. 1. Section of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Padua University Hospital, Via Battisti, 267, 35121 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: paolofeltracco@inwind.it. 2. Section of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Padua University Hospital, Via Battisti, 267, 35121 Padua, Italy. 3. Section of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Hospital, Via Loredan, 18, 35131 Padua, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (RNMB) is a common complication in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), but also one of the most controversial issues. Many studies and trials demonstrated that some methods and techniques can reduce the incidence and the extent of the phenomenon. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of RNMB in the PACU at standardized times after extubation with the implementation of a protocol of careful neuromuscular blockade management. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Operating room and PACU. PATIENTS: A total of 120 patients of either sex with American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 1, 2, and 3, aged 18 to 80 years were scheduled to undergo elective abdominal surgical procedures lasting for at least 60 minutes. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either cisatracurium (n=60) or rocuronium (n=60) at the time of intubation and during surgery. Every patient received quantitative neuromuscular monitoring during general anesthesia. On completion of surgery, patients were given neostigmine 0.05 mg kg-1. Patients were extubated at a train-of-four (TOF) ratio≥0.9. MEASUREMENTS: TOF measurements were performed 15, 30, and 60 minutes after extubation. Tolerability of neuromuscular monitoring was evaluated with a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 meaning no discomfort at all and 10 meaning maximal discomfort or pain). RESULTS: Six, 11, and 14 patients (5.0%, 9.2%, and 11.7%) exhibited a TOF ratio <0.9 at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after extubation, respectively. No statistically significant difference in the postoperative RNMB between cisatracurium and rocuronium was found. The median tolerability score for neuromuscular monitoring was 3. CONCLUSION: Careful conduction, monitoring, and subsequent reversal of neuromuscular block may allow for obtaining considerably low incidence of residual neuromuscular block. However, our trial shows that some mid- and long-term cases of TOF ratios <0.9 can still occur, possibly jeopardizing the patients' postoperative recovery.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade (RNMB) is a common complication in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), but also one of the most controversial issues. Many studies and trials demonstrated that some methods and techniques can reduce the incidence and the extent of the phenomenon. STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of RNMB in the PACU at standardized times after extubation with the implementation of a protocol of careful neuromuscular blockade management. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Operating room and PACU. PATIENTS: A total of 120 patients of either sex with American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 1, 2, and 3, aged 18 to 80 years were scheduled to undergo elective abdominal surgical procedures lasting for at least 60 minutes. INTERVENTIONS:Patients were randomized to receive either cisatracurium (n=60) or rocuronium (n=60) at the time of intubation and during surgery. Every patient received quantitative neuromuscular monitoring during general anesthesia. On completion of surgery, patients were given neostigmine 0.05 mg kg-1. Patients were extubated at a train-of-four (TOF) ratio≥0.9. MEASUREMENTS: TOF measurements were performed 15, 30, and 60 minutes after extubation. Tolerability of neuromuscular monitoring was evaluated with a scale from 1 to 10 (with 1 meaning no discomfort at all and 10 meaning maximal discomfort or pain). RESULTS: Six, 11, and 14 patients (5.0%, 9.2%, and 11.7%) exhibited a TOF ratio <0.9 at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after extubation, respectively. No statistically significant difference in the postoperative RNMB between cisatracurium and rocuronium was found. The median tolerability score for neuromuscular monitoring was 3. CONCLUSION: Careful conduction, monitoring, and subsequent reversal of neuromuscular block may allow for obtaining considerably low incidence of residual neuromuscular block. However, our trial shows that some mid- and long-term cases of TOF ratios <0.9 can still occur, possibly jeopardizing the patients' postoperative recovery.
Authors: Pedro Marcos Silva E Gonçalves; Alexandra de Vasconcelos Vieira; Claudia Helena Ribeiro da Silva; Renato Santiago Gomez Journal: Braz J Anesthesiol Date: 2020-12-28