To the Editor:—Schreiber et al. noted an association between larger doses of succinylcholine and a reduced incidence of fasciculation and myalgia. However, pretreatment with a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker is also associated with a reduced risk of fasciculation and myalgia. It is a common practice for clinicians to use a larger dose of succinylcholine when they have provided pretreatmen...

It is often argued that neuromuscular monitoring is unnecessary when only one dose of an intermediate-acting neuromuscular blocking agent is given. This case report documents that it may take more than 3.5 h before it is possible to antagonize a block caused by a normal dose of rocuronium (0.6 mg kg(-1)). Possible causes of the extremely prolonged duration of action are discussed, as is the imp...

BACKGROUND Several studies have recognized neuromuscular blocking agents as the most common cause of anaphylaxis during general anesthesia, but the reported frequencies vary considerably between countries. In Norway, the issue has raised special concern because of reports from the Norwegian Medicines Agency that suggest a high prevalence. This article presents the results from a standardized al...

Sugammadex is the first selective relaxant binding agent. It allows rapid reversal of any degree of neuromuscular blockade induced by steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents. Sugammadex acts by encapsulation of the neuromuscular blocking agent. This prevents the drug from acting on prejunctional and postjunctional nicotinic receptors, allowing acetylcholine to activate these receptors, and resu...

AANA Journal June 2009 Vol. 77, No. 3 219 Sugammadex sodium is the generic drug name for the novel modified gamma cyclodextrin that terminates neuromuscular blockade induced by aminosteroidal neuromuscular blocking agents. Published phase II and phase III clinical data support preclinical and clinical phase I study findings of fast, safe, and efficacious reversal of all levels of neuromuscular ...

Neuromuscular blocking drugs are not as notorious for producing adverse reactions as the i.v. induction agents; nevertheless, to a varying degree they all produce unfavourable or harmful effects. The newer non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers, atracurium and vecuronium, have been developed in an attempt to overcome the disadvantages of the earlier drugs, but although much more specific agent...