Generalised neuromuscular blockade after intraurethral administration of atracurium besilate in a male cat with urethral obstruction.

A 4-year-old, entire, male, domestic long-haired cat was presented with an acute history of stranguria and dysuria and diagnosed with urolithiasis causing urethral obstruction. The patient was induced to general anaesthesia and several unsuccessful attempts to flush the uroliths retrogradely towards the bladder were made. An intraurethral administration of the neuromuscular blocking agent atracurium was performed as it has been reported to facilitate urethral catheterisation without any side effects. Respiratory arrest developed after 15 minutes from atracurium administration, which was promptly recognized and treated with mechanical ventilation. The absence of muscle contraction in response to a nerve stimulation confirmed a generalised muscle blockade. Approximately 35 minutes after, a muscle response to nerve stimulation appeared. Neostigmine combined with glycopyrrolate was administered resulting in complete recovery from neuromuscular blockade. In conclusion, the use of intraurethral atracurium can result in systemic absorption of the drug with subsequent generalised neuromuscular blockade.

Inhibition of the neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor with atracurium activates FOXO/DAF-16-induced longevity.

Transcriptome-based drug screening is emerging as a powerful tool to identify geroprotective compounds to intervene in age-related disease. We hypothesized that, by mimicking the transcriptional signature of the highly conserved longevity intervention of FOXO3 (daf-16 in worms) overexpression, we could identify and repurpose compounds with similar downstream effects to increase longevity. Our in silico screen, utilizing the LINCS transcriptome database of genetic and compound interventions, identified several FDA-approved compounds that activate FOXO downstream targets in mammalian cells. These included the neuromuscular blocker atracurium, which also robustly extends both lifespan and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans. This longevity is dependent on both daf-16 signaling and inhibition of the neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor subunit unc-38. We found unc-38 RNAi to improve healthspan, lifespan, and stimulate DAF-16 nuclear localization, similar to atracurium treatment. Finally, using RNA-seq transcriptomics, we identify atracurium activation of DAF-16 downstream effectors. Together, these data demonstrate the capacity to mimic genetic lifespan interventions with drugs, and in doing so, reveal that the neuromuscular acetylcholine receptor regulates the highly conserved FOXO/DAF-16 longevity pathway.

Cisatracurium Continuous Infusion Versus No Neuromuscular Blockade for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

The benefit of continuous infusion neuromuscular blockade concurrently with venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome who are receiving mechanical ventilation remains unclear. Adult patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring VV ECMO were analyzed in 2 groups: continuous infusion neuromuscular blockade with cisatracurium vs no neuromuscular blockade. Similar mechanical ventilation strategies were used. The primary end point was duration of VV ECMO. This single-center, retrospective observational cohort included a total of 47 patients, 28 of whom received continuous infusion cisatracurium and 19 patients who did not receive neuromuscular blockade. There was no difference in the duration of VV ECMO in patients who received cisatracurium, 226.5 hours (interquartile range, 119-362.3) vs 187.0 hours (interquartile range, 108-374) in the group who did not receive a paralytic (P = .64). There were no differences in secondary outcomes of days in the hospital, days free of organ dysfunction, ECMO survival, or discharged alive. Among patients with severe ARDS who were managed with VV ECMO, patients who received continuous infusion cisatracurium had no difference in the duration of VV ECMO compared to the nonparalytic comparator group.

Sugammadex: routine use vs restrictive use.

Worldwide, the use of sugammadex for the reversal of neuromuscular blocking agents worldwide is restricted. This article reflects on how more liberal use of sugammadex might alter patient experience, anaesthetic delivery and surgical techniques.

Anaesthetic management for hiatal hernia repair in a child with Bartter's syndrome: A case report.

Bartter syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by reduced sodium chloride transport in the distal nephrons of the kidney. Its clinical features are renal salt wasting, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, elevated renin and aldosterone levels with normal or low blood pressure, polyuria, hypercalciuria and malnutrition. The pathophysiologic and biochemical changes in these patients should be kept in mind when considering anaesthetic management. This case report describes our management in a nineteen months old, 3.6 kg weight male child with Bartter's syndrome who underwent elective repair of hiatal hernia and gastrostomy.

Successful anesthetic management of a massive thoracoabdominal impalement injury.

We describe the management, focusing on the anesthetic preparedness, of a 44-year-old man who presented with impalement of a 1 m long serrated rod through the right supraclavicular fossa extending up to the right iliac fossa, along with rib fractures and laceration of the liver and diaphragm.

Neuromuscular monitoring during modified rapid sequence induction: A comparison of TOF-Cuff® and TOF-Scan®.

BACKGROUND: Acceleromyometry is the clinical standard for quantitative neuromuscular monitoring, mostly using the stimulation pattern train-of-four (TOF). TOF-Cuff®, a recently introduced neuromuscular monitor with stimulating electrodes integrated within a blood pressure cuff, assesses the muscular response in the upper arm. METHODS: The time from administration of a neuromuscular blocking agent to TOF-ratio 0% during modified rapid sequence induction was compared between TOF-Cuff® and acceleromyometry (TOF-Scan®). Included were 26 adults with body mass index <35 kg/m2. TOF-Scan® and TOF-Cuff® were simultaneously fitted on patients' opposite arms. The mean difference to TOF-ratio 0% was compared using the one sample t-test (p < 0.05) and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: After anesthesia induction, atracurium 0.9 mg/kg (±0.08) i.v. was administered. The mean time to TOF ratio 0% for TOF-Scan® was 140.4 s (±34.3), and 132.7 s (±32.5) for TOF-Cuff®, with a mean difference of 5.4 (95% CI: -9.9 to 20.7, p = 0.472). The maximum difference between the two modalities was 135 s when the TOF-Cuff® was faster and 60 s when the TOF-Scan® was faster. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant systematic difference was found between TOF-Scan® and TOF-Cuff®. However, there was high variability and wide limits of agreement. The two devices cannot be used interchangeably.

The effect of cisatracurium infusion on the energy expenditure of critically ill patients: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Both overfeeding and underfeeding of intensive care unit (ICU) patients are associated with worse outcomes. A reliable estimation of the energy expenditure (EE) of ICU patients may help to avoid these phenomena. Several factors that influence EE have been studied previously. However, the effect of neuromuscular blocking agents on EE, which conceptually would lower EE, has not been extensively investigated. METHODS: We studied a cohort of adult critically ill patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and treatment with continuous infusion of cisatracurium for at least 12 h. The study aimed to quantify the effect of cisatracurium infusion on EE (primary endpoint). EE was estimated based on ventilator-derived VCO2 (EE in kcal/day = VCO2 × 8.19). A subgroup analysis of septic and non-septic patients was performed. Furthermore, the effects of body temperature and sepsis on EE were evaluated. A secondary endpoint was hypercaloric feeding (> 110% of EE) after cisatracurium infusion. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients were included. Mean EE before cisatracurium infusion was 1974 kcal/day and 1888 kcal/day after cisatracurium infusion. Multivariable analysis showed a significantly lower EE after cisatracurium infusion (MD - 132.0 kcal (95% CI - 212.0 to - 52.0; p = 0.001) in all patients. This difference was statistically significant in both sepsis and non-sepsis patients (p = 0.036 and p = 0.011). Non-sepsis patients had lower EE than sepsis patients (MD - 120.6 kcal; 95% CI - 200.5 to - 40.8, p = 0.003). Body temperature and EE were positively correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.486, p < 0.001). Hypercaloric feeding was observed in 7 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that continuous infusion of cisatracurium in mechanically ventilated ICU patients is associated with a significant reduction in EE, although the magnitude of the effect is small. Sepsis and higher body temperature are associated with increased EE. Cisatracurium infusion is associated with overfeeding in only a minority of patients and therefore, in most patients, no reductions in caloric prescription are necessary.

Haemodynamic effects of premedication for neonatal intubation: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in blood pressure (BP), cardiac output (CO) and cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rScO2) with administration of premedication for neonatal intubation. DESIGN: Pilot, prospective, observational study. Oxygen saturation, heart rate, CO, rScO2 and BP data were collected. Monitoring began 5 min prior to premedication and continued until spontaneous movement. SETTING: Single-centre, level 3 neonatal intensive care unit PATIENTS: 35 infants, all gestational ages. 81 eligible infants: 66 consented, 15 refused. INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous atropine, fentanyl or morphine, ±cisatracurium MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BP, CO, rScO2 RESULTS: n=37 intubations. Mean gestational age and median birth weight were 31 4/7 weeks and 1511 g. After premedication, 10 episodes resulted in a BP increase from baseline and 27 in a BP decrease. Of those whose BP decreased, 17 had <20% decrease and 10 had ≥20% decrease. Those with <20% BP decrease took an average of 2.5 min to return to baseline while those with a ≥20% BP decline took an average of 15.2 min. Three did not return to baseline by 35 min. Following intubation, further declines in BP (21%-51%) were observed in eight additional cases. One infant required a bolus for persistently low BPs. CO and rScO2 changes were statistically similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: About 30% of infants dropped their BP by ≥20% after premedication for elective intubation. These BP changes were not associated with any significant change in rScO2 or CO. More data are needed to better characterise the immediate haemodynamic changes and clinical outcomes associated with premedication.

Early Neuromuscular Blockade in the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of early continuous neuromuscular blockade in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are receiving mechanical ventilation remain unclear. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS (defined by a ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen of <150 mm Hg with a positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] of ≥8 cm of water) to a 48-hour continuous infusion of cisatracurium with concomitant deep sedation (intervention group) or to a usual-care approach without routine neuromuscular blockade and with lighter sedation targets (control group). The same mechanical-ventilation strategies were used in both groups, including a strategy involving a high PEEP. The primary end point was in-hospital death from any cause at 90 days. RESULTS: The trial was stopped at the second interim analysis for futility. We enrolled 1006 patients early after the onset of moderate-to-severe ARDS (median, 7.6 hours after onset). During the first 48 hours after randomization, 488 of the 501 patients (97.4%) in the intervention group started a continuous infusion of cisatracurium (median duration of infusion, 47.8 hours; median dose, 1807 mg), and 86 of the 505 patients (17.0%) in the control group received a neuromuscular blocking agent (median dose, 38 mg). At 90 days, 213 patients (42.5%) in the intervention group and 216 (42.8%) in the control group had died before hospital discharge (between-group difference, -0.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, -6.4 to 5.9; P = 0.93). While in the hospital, patients in the intervention group were less physically active and had more adverse cardiovascular events than patients in the control group. There were no consistent between-group differences in end points assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS who were treated with a strategy involving a high PEEP, there was no significant difference in mortality at 90 days between patients who received an early and continuous cisatracurium infusion and those who were treated with a usual-care approach with lighter sedation targets. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; ROSE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02509078.).

Extended neuromuscular blockade in acute respiratory distress syndrome does not increase mortality.

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is often utilized in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Its use for a period of 48 h has been shown to improve mortality in randomized control trials. We aimed to characterize outcomes associated with a prolonged NMB. We hypothesized that the duration of NMB would not be associated with increased mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective review from June 2014 to October 2016 of patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit and receiving cisatracurium for ARDS. Patients paralyzed for ≤ 48 h (SHORT) were compared to those paralyzed for longer durations (LONG). Primary outcome was mortality. Parametric and nonparametric tests were utilized for the purposes of the comparison. A multivariate logistic regression model was utilized to adjust for differences. RESULTS: Of 73 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 32 (44%) were SHORT and 41 (56%) LONG. Compared to the LONG cohort, those in SHORT were older (60 versus 52 years, P = 0.04) but were comparable with respect to sex, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation IV scores, presence of concurrent pneumonia, and the use of vasopressors. SHORT patients were less likely to require rescue therapy with inhaled nitric oxide (28% versus 66%, P < 0.01). Overall mortality was 60%. There was no difference in the adjusted odds for mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 0.57, P = 0.33). Secondary outcomes including deep venous thrombosis and pneumonia did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Extended NMB for ARDS was not associated with increased mortality. Discontinuation of this modality should not be based solely on the duration of therapy.

An Observational Study of the Efficacy of Cisatracurium Compared with Vecuronium in Patients with or at Risk for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

RATIONALE: The neuromuscular blocking agent cisatracurium may improve mortality for patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Other neuromuscular blocking agents, such as vecuronium, are commonly used and have different mechanisms of action, side effects, cost, and availability in the setting of drug shortages. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether cisatracurium is associated with improved outcomes when compared with vecuronium in patients at risk for and with ARDS. METHODS: Using a nationally representative database, patients who were admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of ARDS or an ARDS risk factor, received mechanical ventilation, and were treated with a continuous infusion of neuromuscular blocking agent for at least 2 days within 2 days of hospital admission were included. Patients were stratified into two groups: those who received cisatracurium or vecuronium. Propensity matching was used to balance both patient- and hospital-specific factors. Outcomes included hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital duration, and discharge location. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Propensity matching successfully balanced all covariates for 3,802 patients (1,901 per group). There was no significant difference in mortality (odds ratio, 0.932; P = 0.40) or hospital days (-0.66 d; P = 0.411) between groups. However, patients treated with cisatracurium had fewer ventilator days (-1.01 d; P = 0.005) and ICU days (-0.98 d; P = 0.028) but were equally likely to be discharged home (odds ratio, 1.19; P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with vecuronium, cisatracurium was not associated with a difference in mortality but was associated with improvements in other clinically important outcomes. These data suggest that cisatracurium may be the preferred neuromuscular blocking agent for patients at risk for and with ARDS.

Muscle Relaxants as a Risk Factor for Vis-à-tergo During Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Prospective Interventional Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the influence of three muscle relaxants on intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), and vis-à-tergo (VAT) in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) under general anesthesia. METHODS: Ninety-five patients undergoing PKP were included in this prospective single-center interventional study. IOP and OPA were measured with a dynamic contour tonometer before and 5 min after onset of general anesthesia. Mivacurium (n = 30), atracurium (n = 35), and rocuronium (n = 30) were administered as nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. VAT was assessed 15 min after surgery had begun. RESULTS: When mivacurium was used, IOP decreased by 2.2 mmHg [standard deviation (SD) ±2.2 mmHg; p < 0.001]. Atracurium decreased the IOP by an average of 5.8 mmHg (SD ±1.8 mmHg; p < 0.001) and rocuronium caused an IOP reduction of 7.2 mmHg (SD ±2 mmHg; p < 0.001). The relative IOP decrease was 12% with mivacurium, 29% with atracurium, and 37% with rocuronium (p < 0.001). OPA decreased by 0.6 mmHg with mivacurium (SD ±0.6 mmHg; 26%; p < 0.001), 1.3 mmHg with atracurium (SD ±1.3 mmHg; 40%; p < 0.001), and 1.2 mmHg with rocuronium (SD ±0.7 mmHg; 42%; p < 0.001). The relative OPA decrease was 26% with mivacurium, 40% with atracurium, and 42% with rocuronium (p < 0.001). VAT occurred in 36% of cases. Mivacurium was used in 77% of these cases, atracurium in 26%, and rocuronium in 6.6% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mivacurium is associated with a higher risk of VAT during PKP. Therefore, atracurium or rocuronium may minimize complications in ocular surgery with large incisions.

Design and Rationale of the Reevaluation of Systemic Early Neuromuscular Blockade Trial for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

The Reevaluation of Systemic Early Neuromuscular Blockade (ROSE) trial is a multicenter, randomized trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of early neuromuscular blockade in patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. This document provides background for interpretation of the trial results, and highlights unique design approaches that may inform future trials of acute illness. We describe the process by which ROSE was chosen as the inaugural trial of the multidisciplinary Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury Network, provide the trial methodology using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials framework, and discuss key design challenges and their resolution. Four key design issues proved challenging-feasibility, choice of sedation depth in the control group, impact of emphasizing early treatment on enrollment criteria and protocol execution, and choice of positive end-expiratory pressure strategy. We used literature, an iterative consensus model, and internal surveys of current practice to inform design choice. ROSE will provide definitive, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials adherent data on early neuromuscular blockade for future patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our multidisciplinary approach to trial design may be of use to other trials of acute illness. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02509078).

Power Calculations to Select Instruments for Clinical Trial Secondary Endpoints. A Case Study of Instrument Selection for Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Subjects with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

RATIONALE: After the sample size of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) is set by the power requirement of its primary endpoint, investigators select secondary endpoints while unable to further adjust sample size. How the sensitivity and specificity of an instrument used to measure these outcomes, together with their expected underlying event rates, affect an RCT's power to measure significant differences in these outcomes is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: Motivated by the design of an RCT of neuromuscular blockade in acute respiratory distress syndrome, we examined how power to detect a difference in secondary endpoints varies with the sensitivity and specificity of the instrument used to measure such outcomes. METHODS: We derived a general formula and Stata code for calculating an RCT's power to detect differences in binary outcomes when such outcomes are measured with imperfect sensitivity and specificity. The formula informed the choice of instrument for measuring post-traumatic stress-like symptoms in the Reevaluation of Systemic Early Neuromuscular Blockade RCT ( www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02509078). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On the basis of published sensitivities and specificities, the Impact of Events Scale-Revised was predicted to measure a 36% symptom rate, whereas the Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms instrument was predicted to measure a 23% rate, if the true underlying rate of post-traumatic stress symptoms were 25%. Despite its lower sensitivity, the briefer Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms instrument provided superior power to detect a difference in rates between trial arms, owing to its higher specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Examining instruments' power to detect differences in outcomes may guide their selection when multiple instruments exist, each with different sensitivities and specificities.

A Comparison Between the Hemodynamic Effects of Cisatracurium and Atracurium in Patient with Low Function of Left Ventricle who are Candidate for Open Heart Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The need for muscle relaxants in general anesthesia in different surgeries including cardiac surgeries, and the type of relaxant to be used considering its different hemodynamic effects on patients with heart disease can be of considerable importance. In this study, the hemodynamic effects of two muscle relaxants, Cisatracurium and Atracurium in patients whit low function of left ventricle who are candidate for open heart surgery have been considered. METHOD: This study has been designed as a randomized prospective double-blind clinical trial. The target population included all adult patients with heart disease whose ejection fraction reported by echocardiography or cardiac catheterization was 35% or less before the surgery, and were candidate for open heart surgery in Shahid Rajaei Heart Center. Taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the patients were randomly placed in two groups of 30 people each. In the induction stage, all the patients received midazolam, etomidate, and one of the considered muscle relaxant, either 0.2 mg/kg of cisatracurium or 0.5mg/kg of Atracurium within one minute. In the maintenance stage of anesthesia, the patients were administered by infusion of midazolam, sufentanil and the same muscle relaxant used in the induction stage. The hemodynamic indexes were recorded and evaluated in different stages of anesthesia and surgery as well as prior to transfer to ICU. RESULTS: In regard with descriptive indexes (age and sex distributions, premedication with cardiac drugs, ejection fraction before surgery, basic disease) there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The significant difference of hemodynamic indexes between the two groups of this study, and the need for hemodynamic stability in all stages of surgery for patients with low function of left ventricle who are candidate for open heart surgery, proves that administering Cisatracurium as the muscle relaxant is advantageous and better.

Association Between Train-of-Four Values and Gas Exchange Indices in Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with a mortality rate of approximately 40%. Neuromuscular blockade is associated with an improvement in oxygenation and a reduction in mortality in ARDS. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this evaluation was to determine if the depth of paralysis, determined by train-of-four (TOF) monitoring, correlates with gas exchange in moderate to severe ARDS. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of moderate to severe ARDS patients who were prescribed >12 hours of continuous infusion cisatracurium between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014, with a PaO2:FiO2 ratio <150 and documented TOF and arterial blood gases. Patients were evaluated for inclusion at 12, 24, and 48 hours after initiation of neuromuscular blockade. RESULTS: A total of 378 patients were screened for inclusion, with 107 evaluable patients meeting criteria at baseline. Poor correlation existed between TOF and oxygenation index (OI) at 12 (τ = 0.03), 24 (τ = 0.15) and 48 hours (τ = 0.08). When controlling for proning and baseline OI, the depth of paralysis did not have a significant effect on OI at 12, 24, or 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation demonstrates that the use of TOF monitoring for neuromuscular blockade does not correlate with gas exchange markers in moderate to severe ARDS.

Influence of Tumor Location and Other Variables on Predictive Value of Intraoperative myogenic Motor-Evoked Potentials in Spinal Cord Tumor Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of tumor location (cervical vs. thoracic; extramedullary vs. intramedullary) on predictive value of intraoperative myogenic motor-evoked potentials (iMEP) changes in patients undergoing surgery for spinal cord tumors. METHODS: Three hundred patients retrospective data (91 intramedullary) and 209 (intradural extramedullary) with successful iMEP recordings were analyzed. Responses to transcranial electrical stimulation were recorded from the lower limb muscles. Preoperative clinical variables, iMEPs changes, and postoperative neurologic deficits were noted. Associations between categorical variables and outcome were analyzed with the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Of the 300 patients 28 (9.3%) had significant intraoperative worsening of iMEPs. New postoperative deficits occurred in 23 of these 28 patients. False-positive decreases in iMEPs were observed in 5 patients. There was a significant association between changes in iMEP and postoperative new motor deficits (P ≤ 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with changes in iMEP undergoing surgery for thoracic segment tumors, with longer duration of symptoms (>12 months) and older age (≥21.5 years) were more likely to suffer postoperative neurological decline (odds ratio 4.1, P ≤ 0.001 and odds ratio 5.4 P ≤ 0.0001, respectively). The sensitivity of iMEPs was 100% and specificity 98.2%. The positive and negative predictive values were 82% and 100%; however, the sensitivity and specificity is similar in thoracic intramedullary (TIM) (n = 53) and cervical intramedullary tumors (n = 38) (both were 100% and 97%). The positive predictive value was significantly greater for TIM tumors (93% vs. 50%). CONCLUSIONS: A strong association was observed between worsening of iMEPs and postoperative new neurological deficits in patients with TIM tumor.

Prospective study of residual neuromuscular block and postoperative respiratory complications in patients reversed with neostigmine versus sugammadex.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative residual curarization (PORC) is an important complication of neuromuscular blocking drug (NMBD) use. This study evaluates the incidence of PORC in the Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU), its relation to the type of muscle relaxant and reversal agent used, and its implication in the development of postoperative respiratory complications. METHODS: A prospective observational study of cohorts was made with 558 patients operated under general anesthesia. Data regarding patient history, muscle relaxation (train-of-four [TOF]) monitoring, type of relaxants and reversal agents used, and TOF upon admission to the PACU was collected. Four groups were established: cisatracurium, cisatracurium-neostigmine, rocuronium, and rocuronium-sugammadex. An evaluation was made on the incidence of PORC (TOF ratio [TOFr] <0.9) in PACU, and its relation to the relaxants and reversal agents used and to the development of postoperative respiratory complications - minor and major (pneumonia, atelectasis). RESULTS: From a total of 558 patients, 27.9% presented with PORC. According to the NMBD used and the administration or not of a reversal agent, the incidence of PORC in the four groups was: cisatracurium 34%, cisatracurium-neostigmine 28.6%, rocuronium 34%, and rocuronium-sugammadex 1.15%. The global incidence of minor critical respiratory events (CREs) was 14.5%: cisatracurium 27.5%, cisatracurium-neostigmine 17.4%, rocuronium 10.5%, and rocuronium-sugammadex 2.3%, with statistically significant differences. The global incidence of major CREs was 7.5%, and was significantly higher in patients with TOFr<0.9 upon admission to the PACU. CONCLUSIONS: PORC in the PACU is associated to a greater incidence of major and minor respiratory complications. The use of rocuronium-sugammadex significantly reduces the incidence of PORC in the PACU.