Reduced duration of muscle relaxation with rocuronium in a normocalcemic hyperparathyroid patient

Coadministration of intravenous calcium along with neostigmine for rapid neuromuscular blockade recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Postoperative residual curarization (PORC) and the impact of the coadministration of intravenous calcium along with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on it are not well addressed. Extensive electronic database screening was done until October 7, 2022 after enlisting the protocol of this systematic review in PROSPERO (CRD42021274879). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the impact of intravenous calcium and neostigmine coadministration on neuromuscular recovery were included in this meta-analysis. Our search retrieved four RCTs with a total of 266 patients. The application of calcium shortened the neuromuscular recovery time (SMD = -2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.66 to -1.59, I2 = 66%) and reduced the risk of PORC at 5 min (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.10-0.46, I2 = 0%), with an improved train-of-four (TOF) ratio at 5 min (mean difference [MD] = 9.28, 95% CI: 4-14.57, I2 = 66%). However, neither significant reduction in PORC at 10 min (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.15-1.09, I2 = 0%) nor a better TOF ratio was associated with coadministration of calcium (MD = 0.40, 95% CI: -1.3-2.11). Coadministration of calcium along with neostigmine during the early period of neuromuscular blockade reversal can be used to enhance neuromuscular recovery.

Comparison of the TOFscan and the TOF-Watch SX during pediatric neuromuscular function recovery: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

TOFscan is a three-dimensional acceleromyography neuromuscular monitoring device that does not require initial calibration before muscle relaxant injection. This study aimed to compare TOFscan with TOF-Watch SX, the currently widely accepted uni-dimensional acceleromyography, for use among the pediatric population. We aimed to assess the agreement between TOFscan with TOF-Watch SX in the pediatric population's neuromuscular recovery.

METHODS

A total of 35 children aged 6-12 years were enrolled. Prior to any muscle relaxant injection, TOFscan and TOF-Watch SX were applied at each opposite arm and monitoring began concurrently throughout neuromuscular recovery. Calibration was performed for TOF-Watch SX, and train-of-four values were recorded every 15 s. Agreement between the two devices was evaluated with Modified Bland-Altman analysis.

RESULTS

The bias between TOF-Watch SX and TOFscan were all within the 95% limits of agreement. The bias and standard deviation were smaller and the limit of agreement was narrower in the normalized group than in the non-normalized group [normalized bias -0.002 (95% CI, -0.013 to 0.010), standard deviation (SD) 0.111 vs non-normalized bias 0.010 (95% CI, -0.003 to 0.0236), SD 0.127].

CONCLUSIONS

TOFscan reliably demonstrated lack of bias and good concordance with TOF-Watch SX throughout the neuromuscular recovery, especially when normalized. Despite technical limitations, the two devices were unbiased along the path of spontaneous and pharmacological reversal in pediatric patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03775603. Registered on 13 March 2018.

Effects of calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine on neuromuscular blockade recovery: A double-blind randomised study

BACKGROUND

Ionised calcium plays an important role in neuromuscular transmission, but its effects on the reversal of nondepolarising neuromuscular blockade have not been fully evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine could enhance the rate of neuromuscular recovery.

DESIGN

Randomised double-blind trial.

SETTING

A tertiary teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

In total, 53 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with neuromuscular monitoring by acceleromyography using a TOF-Watch SX monitor.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 5 mg kg of calcium chloride (calcium group, n = 26) or the same volume of normal saline (control group, n = 27) coadministered with 25 μg kg of neostigmine and 15 μg kg of atropine at the end of surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary end point was the neuromuscular recovery time [time from neostigmine administration to recovery of the TOF ratio (TOFr) to 0.9]. Secondary end points included the TOFr at 5, 10 and 20 min after neostigmine administration and the incidence of postoperative residual curarisation (PORC), defined as a TOFr less than 0.9 at each time point.

RESULTS

The neuromuscular recovery time was significantly faster in the calcium group than in the control group (median [Q1 to Q3]; 5.0 [3.0 to 7.0] vs. 6.7 [5.7 to 10.0] min, respectively; P = 0.007). At 5 min after neostigmine administration, the TOFr was higher [87 (74 to 100) vs. 68 (51 to 81)%, respectively; P = 0.002] and the incidence of PORC was lower (50.0 vs. 81.5%, respectively; P = 0.016) in the calcium group than in the control group. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to the TOFr or incidence of PORC at 10 and 20 min after neostigmine administration.

CONCLUSION

Calcium chloride coadministered with neostigmine enhanced neuromuscular recovery in the early period of nondepolarising neuromuscular blockade reversal.

[Effects of changes in ion concentrations, osmolarity, and pH on recovery from atracurium- or vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade]

OBJECTIVES

To determine changes in sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride ion concentrations in blood, osmolarity, and pH during surgery, and to assess the influence of such changes on atracurium- or vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade under inhaled or intravenous anesthesia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective study randomizing 119 ASA 1-2 patients; 52.1% of the patients received atracurium (26.8%, with isoflurane; 25.2%, with propofol) and 47.9% received vecuronium (23.5%, with isoflurane; 24.3%, with propofol). The neuromuscular blockade was confirmed by electromyography of the adductor pollicis muscle (stimuli delivered to the cubital nerve). Two venous blood samples were extracted to measure ureic nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, ion concentrations (sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and osmolarity. Arterial blood gases and pH were also assessed. The first blood sample was extracted on inserting the venous catheter and the second on recovery of 25% of the first train-of-four twitch.

RESULTS

The onset and duration of action for equipotent doses of atracurium and vecuronium were similar. Likewise, recovery was also similar. Plasma chloride ion and glucose levels tended to rise during surgery, while sodium, potassium and magnesium ion concentrations fell. Both total and effective plasma osmolarities also decreased. Fluid replacement therapy during surgery was at least partly responsible for these changes. Low calcium and magnesium concentrations and alkalosis prolonged some phases of atracurium recovery, while low sodium levels shortened the duration of some atracurium-induced blockade recovery phases. The effect of changes in chloride ion concentrations on recovery was variable. High chloride, low calcium, and especially low sodium ion concentrations shortened some phases of the vecuronium-induced blockade, while alkalosis prolonged its duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in electrolyte concentrations and pH as a result of standard fluid replacement therapy are moderate, well tolerated, and do not exercise a strong effect on the behavior of the neuromuscular blockade.