The armlift test. An alternative to the headlift test for assessing recovery from neuromuscular blockade.

The armlift test was assessed as an alternative to the headlift test for recovery from neuromuscular blockade. Forty comparisons of inspiratory force, duration of arm-lift and duration of headlift were performed in 27 intubated patients after anaesthesia, which included the use of non-depolarising neuromuscular blockade. Patients' ability to keep one arm raised (with the elbow clear of the bed) correlated well with inspiratory force (r = 0.67). All patients capable of an armlift duration of 45 seconds or more were also found to have an inspiratory force of at least -2.5 kPa and were safely extubated. The headlift test was found to be less discerning (r = 0.34) and of 40 determinations of headlift and inspiratory force there were 18 false negatives and two false positives.