Use of neuromuscular blockers in Brazil / Uso de bloqueadores neuromusculares no Brasil

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate how Brazilian anesthesiologists are using neuromuscular blockers, focusing on how they establish the diagnosis of postoperative residual curarization and the incidence of complications associated with the use of neuromuscular blockers. A questionnaire was sent to anesthesiologists inviting them to participate in the study. The online data collection remained open from March 2012 to June 2013. During the study period, 1296 responses were collected. Rocuronium, atracurium, and cisatracurium were the main neuromuscular blockers used in cases of elective surgery. Succinylcholine and rocuronium were the main neuromuscular blockers used in cases of emergency surgery. Less than 15% of anesthesiologists reported the frequent use of neuromuscular function monitors. Only 18% of those involved in the study reported that all workplaces have such a monitor. Most respondents reported using only the clinical criteria to assess whether the patient is recovered from the muscle relaxant. Most respondents also reported always using some form of neuromuscular blockade reversal. The major complications attributed to neuromuscular blockers were residual curarization and prolonged blockade. Eighteen anesthesiologists reported death attributed to neuromuscular blockers. Residual or prolonged blockade is possibly recorded as a result of the high rate of using clinical criteria to diagnose whether the patient has recovered or not from motor block and, as a corollary, the poor use of neuromuscular transmission monitors in daily practice.

RESUMOO objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar como os anestesiologistas brasileiros estão usando os bloqueadores neuromusculares (BNM), com foco na forma de estabelecer o diagnóstico da curarização residual pós-operatória e a incidência de complicações atribuídas ao uso de BNM. Um questionário foi enviado a anestesiologistas convidando-os a participar da pesquisa (tabela 1). A coleta online de dados permaneceu aberta de março de 2012 a junho de 2013. Durante o período de estudo foram coletadas 1.296 respostas. Rocurônio, atracúrio e cisatracúrio foram os principais bloqueadores neuromusculares usados em casos de cirurgia eletiva. Succinilcolina e rocurônio foram os principais BNM usados em casos de cirurgia de emergência. Menos de 15% dos anestesiologistas referiram que usam frequentemente monitores da função neuromuscular. Apenas 18% dos envolvidos no estudo referiram que todos os locais de trabalho têm tal monitor. A maioria dos entrevistados afirmou que usa somente o critério clínico para avaliar se o paciente está recuperado do relaxante. A maioria dos entrevistados também relatou que sempre usa algum tipo de reversão de bloqueio neuromuscular. As principais complicações atribuídas aos BNM foram curarização residual e bloqueio prolongado. Houve relato por 18 anestesiologistas de óbito atribuído a BNM. O bloqueio residual ou prolongado se registra, possivelmente, como consequência do alto índice do uso de critérios clínicos para diagnosticar se o paciente está recuperado ou não do bloqueio motor e, como um corolário, o baixo uso de monitores da transmissão neuromuscular na prática diária.

Use of neuromuscular blockers in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate how Brazilian anesthesiologists are using neuromuscular blockers, focusing on how they establish the diagnosis of postoperative residual curarization and the incidence of complications associated with the use of neuromuscular blockers. A questionnaire was sent to anesthesiologists inviting them to participate in the study. The online data collection remained open from March 2012 to June 2013. During the study period, 1296 responses were collected. Rocuronium, atracurium, and cisatracurium were the main neuromuscular blockers used in cases of elective surgery. Succinylcholine and rocuronium were the main neuromuscular blockers used in cases of emergency surgery. Less than 15% of anesthesiologists reported the frequent use of neuromuscular function monitors. Only 18% of those involved in the study reported that all workplaces have such a monitor. Most respondents reported using only the clinical criteria to assess whether the patient is recovered from the muscle relaxant. Most respondents also reported always using some form of neuromuscular blockade reversal. The major complications attributed to neuromuscular blockers were residual curarization and prolonged blockade. Eighteen anesthesiologists reported death attributed to neuromuscular blockers. Residual or prolonged blockade is possibly recorded as a result of the high rate of using clinical criteria to diagnose whether the patient has recovered or not from motor block and, as a corollary, the poor use of neuromuscular transmission monitors in daily practice.

[Use of neuromuscular blockers in Brazil]. / Uso de bloqueadores neuromusculares no Brasil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate how Brazilian anesthesiologists are using neuromuscular blockers (NMB), focusing on how they establish the diagnosis of postoperative residual curarization and the incidence of complications associated with the use of NMB. A questionnaire was sent to anesthesiologists inviting them to participate in the study. The online data collection remained open from March 2012 to June 2013. During the study period, 1296 responses were collected. Rocuronium, atracurium, and cisatracurium were the main neuromuscular blockers used in cases of elective surgery. Succinylcholine and rocuronium were the main NMB used in cases of emergency surgery. Less than 15% of anesthesiologists reported the frequent use of neuromuscular function monitors. Only 18% of those involved in the study reported that all workplaces have such a monitor. Most respondents reported using only the clinical criteria to assess whether the patient is recovered from the muscle relaxant. Most respondents also reported always using some form of neuromuscular blockade reversal. The major complications attributed to NMB were residual curarization and prolonged blockade. Eighteen anesthesiologists reported death attributed to NMB. Residual or prolonged blockade is possibly recorded as a result of the high rate of using clinical criteria to diagnose whether the patient has recovered or not from motor block and, as a corollary, the poor use of neuromuscular transmission monitors in daily practice.