We have compared the potency of vecuronium given to 12 smokers and 12 non-smokers during propofol-alfentanil-nitrous oxide anaesthesia. After obtaining individual dose-response curves, bolus doses of vecuronium were given to maintain neuromuscular block at 90-98% for 60 min. Adductor pollicis EMG was used to monitor neuromuscular block. Mean ED95 values were 61.38 micrograms kg-1 and 47.49 micr...

AIM Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are used in a range of critical illnesses in neonates and infants, despite a lack of guidelines and professional standards. This study reviewed the current evidence base and ascertained UK practice regarding the continuous use of these agents in this age range. METHODS We reviewed the literature and carried out a telephone questionnaire of all tertiar...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of the neuromuscular blocking agent, rocuronium, on clinical recovery from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as compared with succinylcholine. DESIGN Cross-over study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS 13 ASA physical status I and II patients, ages 18 to 60 years, receiving ECT three times a week. INTERVENTIONS Each patient received either succin...

BACKGROUND Conventional incremental bolus administration of neuromuscular blocking (NMB) drugs is associated with limitations in intraoperative control, potential delays in recovery, and residual blockade in the postanesthetic period. To overcome such limitations, we developed a novel adaptive control computer program, the Neuromuscular Blockade Advisory System (NMBAS). The NMBAS advises the an...

Neuromuscular blockade plays an important role in the safe management of patient airways, surgical field improvement, and respiratory care. Rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia is indispensable to emergency surgery and obstetric anesthesia, and its purpose is to obtain a stable airway, adequate depth of anesthesia, and appropriate respiration within a short period of time without causing irri...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Rocuronium is an intermediate nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker (NMB) with faster onset and indicated in situations requiring rapid tracheal intubation. Intravenous lidocaine is often used to decrease hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation. The association of NMB to local anesthetics results in potentiation of NMB effects. The purpose of this study was to eva...

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to detect intraoperative awareness during general anaesthesia. Traditionally, BCI research is aimed at establishing or improving communication and control for patients with permanent paralysis. Patients experiencing intraoperative awareness also lack the means to communicate after administration of a neuromuscular blocker, but may attempt to m...

Sugammadex is a selective relaxant-binding agent, which reverses rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blocks of any depth by chemical encapsulation of rocuronium in the plasma in various groups of patients. We reported seven Caesarean section cases, undergoing general anaesthesia with thiopental (6 mg kg⁻¹) and rocuronium (0.6 mg kg⁻¹) who were given desflurane and fentanyl for maintenance of anaes...

The characteristics of the neuromuscular block produced by streptomycin in vivo were studied on the sciatic-tibialis anterior nerve-muscle preparation of eight anaesthetized cats. The lungs of the animals were ventilated mechanically and normocarbia was maintained. During acute exposure to streptomycin (within 2 h), ED50 for blockade of the twitch was 56 (SEM +/- 5) mg kg-1 of the base. The cha...

SUGAMMADEX IS BELONGING TO A NEW CLASS OF DRUGS the selective relaxant binding agents. Sugammadex can reverse residual paralysis by encapsulating free circulating non depolarizing muscle relaxants. The mains advantages of sugammadex when compared with conventional anticholinesterase agents are a much faster recovery time and the unique ability, for the first time, to reverse rapidly and efficie...