Postoperative residual paralysis.

Multiple searches were carried out in the PubMed database to identify articles with better methodological design, followed by critical evaluation of their contents and classification according to the strength of evidence. According to the recommendations of the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, literature systematic reviews and randomized clinical trials were preferred. Searches were carried out between January 2009 and July 2010. For the search in PubMed, different keywords combinations were used (random*; neuromuscular; postanesthesia; care; residual; paralysis; complications; blockade; curarization) as well as controlled vocabulary terms (Anesthesia, Perioperative Complications [MeSH]; Residual Neuromuscular Blockade [MeSH]; Postanesthesia Care Unit [MeSH]; Monitoring Neuromuscular blockade [MeSH]; and Randomized Controlled Trial, Guidelines, Task force [Publication Type]). Were selected studies that evaluated the incidence, diagnostic tests, complications and prevention of postoperative residual paralysis in animals, conscious volunteers and patients submitted to surgical procedures, without distinction.