Assessment of neuromuscular blockade in children at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies show the importance of monitoring neuromuscular function in preventing the residual block. However, most anesthesiologists in their daily practice base their evaluation of the recovery of neuromuscular function on clinical data. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of neuromuscular blockade in children undergoing general anesthesia at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube. METHOD: We evaluated children between 3 months and 12 years of age undergoing general anesthesia with the use of atracurium or rocuronium. Monitoring was initiated at the time of reversal of neuromuscular blockade and/or removal of the endotracheal tube. The anesthesiologist was not informed about the T4/T1 value; he/she was only alerted when the time was inadequate for the removal of the endotracheal tube. Since the start of the monitoring process, the degree of neuromuscular blockade was registered, as well as the interval of recovery of the T(4)/T1 ≥ 0.9 ratio, the doses of neostigmine and blocker used, the expired fraction of the inhalational agent, the duration of the anesthesia, and core and peripheral temperatures. RESULTS: Neuromuscular blockade was reversed in 80% of the children of the Rocuronium Group and in 64.5% of the Atracurium Group. The reversal was incorrect in 45.8% of the Rocuronium Group and in 25% of the Atracurium Group. The incidence of T4/T1 < 0.9 at the time of the removal of the endotracheal tube was 10% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: When deciding to remove the endotracheal tube based on clinical criteria, 10% of children had T4/T1 < 0.9 regardless the blocker received. A considerable number of patients had the neuromuscular blockade incorrectly reversed when the blockade was still too deep or even already recovered.

Avaliação do bloqueio neuromuscular em crianças no momento da reversão do bloqueio e da retirada da cânula endotraqueal / Assessment of neuromuscular blockade in children at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Estudos evidenciam a importância da monitoração da função neuromuscular na prevenção do bloqueio residual. No entanto, a maioria dos anestesistas em sua prática diária se abaliza em dados clínicos para avaliar a recuperação da função neuromuscular. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o grau de bloqueio neuromuscular em crianças submetidas à anestesia geral no momento da reversão do bloqueio e da retirada da cânula endotraqueal. MÉTODO: Foram avaliadas crianças entre 3 meses e 12 anos, submetidas à anestesia geral com uso de atracúrio ou rocurônio. A monitoração foi iniciada no momento da reversão do bloqueio neuromuscular e/ou retirada da cânula endotraqueal. O anestesiologista não era informado sobre o valor de T4/T1; apenas era alertado quando o momento era inadequado para a retirada da cânula endotraqueal. Houve registro do grau de bloqueio neuromuscular desde o início da monitoração, bem como do intervalo para a recuperação da relação T4/T1 > 0,9, doses de bloqueador e neostigmina utilizadas, fração expirada do agente inalatório, duração da anestesia, temperatura central e periférica. RESULTADOS: O bloqueio neuromuscular foi revertido em 80 por cento das crianças no Grupo Rocurônio e 64,5 por cento no Grupo Atracúrio. A reversão foi incorreta em 45,8 por cento do Grupo Rocurônio e 25 por cento do Grupo Atracúrio. A incidência de T4/T1 < 0,9 no momento da retirada da cânula endotraqueal foi de 10 por cento em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Na decisão de retirada da cânula endotraqueal, com base em critérios clínicos, 10 por cento das crianças apresentavam T4/T1 < 0,9, independentemente do bloqueador recebido. Um número considerável de pacientes teve o bloqueio neuromuscular revertido de maneira incorreta, quando o bloqueio ainda era profundo demais ou mesmo já estava recuperado.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Studies show the importance of monitoring neuromuscular function in preventing the residual block. However, most anesthesiologists in their daily practice base their evaluation of the recovery of neuromuscular function on clinical data. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of neuromuscular blockade in children undergoing general anesthesia at the time of block reversal and the removal of the endotracheal tube. METHOD: We evaluated children between 3 months and 12 years of age undergoing general anesthesia with the use of atracurium or rocuronium. Monitoring was initiated at the time of reversal of neuromuscular blockade and/or removal of the endotracheal tube. The anesthesiologist was not informed about the T4/T1 value; he/she was only alerted when the time was inadequate for the removal of the endotracheal tube. Since the start of the monitoring process, the degree of neuromuscular blockade was registered, as well as the interval of recovery of the T4/T1 > 0,9 ratio, the doses of neostigmine and blocker used, the expired fraction of the inhalational agent, the duration of the anesthesia, and core and peripheral temperatures. RESULTS: Neuromuscular blockade was reversed in 80 percent of the children of the Rocuronium Group and in 64.5 percent of the Atracurium Group. The reversal was incorrect in 45.8 percent of the Rocuronium Group and in 25 percent of the Atracurium Group. The incidence of T4/T1 < 0.9 at the time of the removal of the endotracheal tube was 10 percent in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: When deciding to remove the endotracheal tube based on clinical criteria, 10 percent of children had T4/T1 < 0.9 regardless the blocker received. A considerable number of patients had the neuromuscular blockade incorrectly reversed when the blockade was still too deep or even already recovered.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Algunos estudios demuestran la importancia de la monitorización de la función neuromuscular en la prevención del bloqueo residual. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los anestesiólogos en su práctica diaria, se basa en datos clínicos para evaluar la recuperación de la función neuromuscular. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el grado de bloqueo neuromuscular en niños sometidos a la anestesia general, en el momento de la reversión del bloqueo y de la retirada de la cánula endotraqueal. MÉTODO: Se evaluaron niños entre 3 meses y 12 años, sometidos a la anestesia general con el uso de atracurio o rocuronio. La monitorización se inició al momento de la reversión del bloqueo neuromuscular y/o retirada de la cánula endotraqueal. El anestesiólogo no conocía el valor de T4/T1; apenas se le avisaba cuando el momento no era el adecuado para la retirada de la cánula endotraqueal. Se registró el grado de bloqueo neuromuscular desde el inicio de la monitorización, como también el intervalo para la recuperación de la relación T4/T1 < 0,9, dosis de bloqueante y neostigmina utilizadas, fracción expirada del agente inhalatorio, duración de la anestesia, temperatura central y periférica. RESULTADOS: El bloqueo neuromuscular fue revertido en un 80 por ciento de los niños en el Grupo Rocuronio y en un 64,5 por ciento en el Grupo Atracurio. La reversión fue incorrecta en un 45,8 por ciento del Grupo Rocuronio y en un 25 por ciento del Grupo Atracurio. La incidencia de T4/T1 < 0,9 al momento de la retirada de la cánula endotraqueal fue de un 10 por ciento en los dos grupos. CONCLUSIONES: En la toma de decisión de la retirada de la cánula endotraqueal, en base a los criterios clínicos, el 10 por ciento de los niños presentaron T4/T1 < 0,9, independientemente del bloqueante recibido. Un número considerable de pacientes tuvo el bloqueo neuromuscular revertido de manera incorrecta, cuando el bloqueo todavía era muy profundo...