Sugammadex advice for women of childbearing age

Effect of sugammadex administration on neural tube development in 48-h chick embryos

Sugammadex is a new generation drug that has led to significant changes in the practice of anesthesia. However, its effects on fetal development are not yet fully known. The aim of this study is to investigate the teratogenic effects of sugammadex on neural tube and embryonic development in early chick embryos. In this study, 50 0-day fertile specific non-pathogenic (SPF) eggs were used. Fifty eggs were divided into 5 different groups, each consisting of 10 pieces. While no substance was given to the control group at the 28th hour of the study, 4 different doses of sugammadex were administered to the experimental groups, respectively 2, 4, 8, 16 mg/kg. Cranio-caudal lengths of embryos, somite numbers, average number of argyrophilic nucleolar regulatory regions (AgNOR) per nucleus, total AgNOR area/total nuclear area (TAA/NA) ratios, Caspase-3 H-Score results, and presence of neural tube defect were compared among the groups. While the mean cranio-caudal lengths, somite counts, TAA/NA ratios and AgNOR counts of the embryos were found to be statistically significantly lower than the control group, Caspase-3 H-Score mean results were found to be significantly higher (p < .05). In addition, it was observed that there was an increase in neural tube patency and developmental delay. As a result, sugammadex crossing the placenta was revealed to increase the release of proapopitotic molecules and disrupt the developmental stages of embryos. Thus, it was determined that sugammadex in increased developmental delay and incidence of neural tube defects in early chick embryos with increased dose dependent. Despite these results, the effects of sugammadex on fetal development in in vivo and in vitro environments should be studied with further studies. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Sugammadex is a new generation drug that has led to significant changes in the practice of anesthesia. However, its effects on fetal development are not yet fully known. It has been observed that different doses of sugammadex increase the risk of neural tube defect development on chick embryos and slow the embryo development in a dose-dependent manner.

A prospective observational study of the effects of sugammadex on peri-operative oestrogen and progesterone levels in women who take hormonal contraception

Pharmacokinetic modelling suggests that sugammadex may interact with endogenous progesterone and reduce levels by 34% in patients taking hormonal contraception. Due to this potential interaction that may be equivalent to missing one dose of an oral contraceptive pill, both the manufacturer and professional anaesthesia organisations recommend counselling patients to use additional non-hormonal contraception after administration of sugammadex. We performed a prospective observational study examining the changes in serum oestrogen and progesterone concentrations in premenopausal adult women undergoing an operative procedure. Sixty participants who were on hormonal contraception received sugammadex. Two additional control groups were recruited, consisting of 30 participants who were not on hormonal contraception and did not receive sugammadex, and 32 who were not on hormonal contraception and did receive sugammadex. Three blood samples were taken: before sugammadex; 15 min post-sugammadex; and 240 min post-sugammadex or end of operating theatre time. Median oestrogen levels decreased from baseline by around 40% at 240 min in all three groups (p ≤ 0.001). Progesterone levels rose significantly at 15 min (p = 0.002) in patients on contraception then decreased non-significantly to 20% below baseline at 240 min. The decrease in oestrogen and the rise in progesterone could both act to minimise the risk of ovulation and thus protect contraception in this population. We found no evidence of a change in hormone levels that might threaten contraceptive efficacy in women on hormonal contraception receiving sugammadex.

A Survey of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia on the Use, Monitoring, and Antagonism of Neuromuscular Blockade

BACKGROUND

Although the package insert clearly states that "the safety and efficacy of sugammadex in pediatric patients have not been established," we hypothesized that sugammadex is used widely in pediatric anesthetic practice supplanting neostigmine as the primary drug for antagonizing neuromuscular blockade (NMB). Additionally, we sought to identify the determinants by which pediatric anesthesiologists choose reversal agents and if and how they assess NMB in their practice. Finally, because of sugammadex's effects on hormonal contraception, we sought to determine whether pediatric anesthesiologists counseled postmenarchal patients on the need for additional or alternative forms of contraception and the risk of unintended pregnancy in the perioperative period.

METHODS

We e-mailed a questionnaire to all 3245 members of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) requesting demographic data and attitudes regarding use of NMB agents, monitoring, and antagonism practices. To address low initial response rates and quantify nonresponse bias, we sent a shortened follow-up survey to a randomly selected subsample (n = 75) of SPA members who did not initially respond. Response differences between the 2 cohorts were determined.

RESULTS

Initial questionnaire response rate was 13% (419 of 3245). Overall, 163 respondents (38.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 34.2-43.8) used sugammadex as their primary reversal agent, and 106 (25.2%; 95% CI, 21.2-30.0) used it exclusively. Respondents with ≤5 years of practice used sugammadex as their primary reversal agent more often than those with ≥6 years of practice (odds ratio [OR]: 2.08; 95% CI, 1.31-3.31; P = .001). This increased utilization remained after controlling for institutional restriction and practice type (adjusted OR [aOR]: 2.20; 95% CI, 1.38-3.54; P = .001). Only 40% of practitioners always assess NMB (train-of-four), and use was inversely correlated with years of practice (Spearman ρ = -0.11, P = .04). Anesthesiologists who primarily used sugammadex assess NMB less routinely (OR: 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34-0.90; P = .01). A slim majority (52.8%) used sugammadex for pediatric postmenarchal girls; those with less experience used it more commonly (P < .001). Thirty-eight percent did not discuss its effects on hormonal contraception with the patient and/or family, independent of anesthesiologist experience (P = .33) and practice location (P = .38). No significant differences were seen in demographics or practice responses between initial and follow-up survey respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

Sugammadex is commonly used in pediatric anesthesia, particularly among anesthesiologists with fewer years of practice. Failure to warn postmenarchal adolescents of its consequences may result in unintended pregnancies. Finally, pediatric anesthesia training programs should emphasize objective monitoring of NMB, particularly with sugammadex use.

Sugammadex Effects on Hormonal Contraception Effectiveness: Implementation of Uniform Postoperative Teaching

PURPOSE

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve consistency of discharge teaching in women who used progesterone-containing hormonal contraceptive medications and received sugammadex during general anesthesia, as there is a risk of unintended pregnancy for 1 week after administration of sugammadex.

DESIGN

This project used a predesign and postdesign using two separate sample groups of patients and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 31 total women of childbearing age and 59 PACU nurses. Simplification of sugammadex discharge instructions was achieved by incorporating evidence-based recommendations for electronic discharge instructions and nursing education. PACU nurses were educated and surveyed before and after regarding frequency of discharge teaching, clarity, and comprehension of the after-visit summary and knowledge of sugammadex. Patients were called via telephone postoperatively to assess recall of sugammadex discharge teaching.

FINDINGS

Postoperative patient phone calls identified a small increase in patient recall of discharge instructions from 5 of 14 patients (35.7%) before implementation to 7 of 17 after implementation (41.2%). PACU nurse surveys indicated an increase in self-reported frequency of sugammadex discharge teaching (34.8% vs 64.2%, P = .024) and that new discharge instructions contained more clear, comprehensive information as compared with previous instructions (29.4% vs 75.5%, P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

This quality improvement project successfully implemented more consistent and comprehensive discharge instructions for women who receive sugammadex intraoperatively. Limitations of the project included a small sample size and short implementation intervals. As a result of switching to uniform discharge instructions, more patients received important discharge teaching from PACU nurses, and the percentage of patients who recalled this information increased.

Unanticipated Consequences of Switching to Sugammadex: Anesthesia Provider Survey on the Hormone Contraceptive Drug Interaction

BACKGROUND

Sugammadex binds progesterone with high affinity and may interfere with hormonal contraceptive effectiveness. The clinical, economical, and ethical implications of unintended pregnancy should prompt anesthesiologists to actively consider and manage this pharmacologic interaction. We surveyed anesthesiology providers at our institution about knowledge of this potential adverse drug interaction, how they manage it clinically, and the extent to which they involve patients in shared decision-making regarding choice of neuromuscular blocker antagonist.

METHODS

A survey instrument was distributed to anesthesiology providers at a large, tertiary-care medical center. The survey explored prior experience using neostigmine and sugammadex, knowledge about potential sugammadex interference with hormonal contraception, pre-/postoperative counseling practices, clinical management, and shared decision-making regarding potential use of neostigmine in lieu of sugammadex to avoid this drug-drug interaction.

RESULTS

Of 259 surveys distributed, 155 were fully completed, and 10 were partially completed. Overall response rate was 60% (residents 85%, student nurse anesthetists 53%, certified registered nurse anesthetists 58%, attendings 48%). All but 1 respondent recognized the potential for sugammadex interference with oral hormonal contraception. Far fewer accurately identified potential interference with hormonal intrauterine devices (44%) and hormonal contraceptive implants (55%). The manufacturer's recommended 7-day duration of alternative contraception was correctly identified by 72% of respondents; others (22%) reported longer durations (range 10-30 days). Most (78% overall) agreed/strongly agreed that potential interference with contraceptive effectiveness should be discussed with patients preoperatively. Despite the majority (86% overall) that endorsed shared decision-making and inviting patient input regarding choice between sugammadex and neostigmine, many respondents reported "rarely/never" having discussed this drug interaction with patients in actual clinical practice, either preoperatively (67%) or postoperatively (80%). Furthermore, most respondents (79%) reported "rarely/never" administering neostigmine to intentionally avoid this drug interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Two years after designating sugammadex as antagonist of choice, physician and nurse anesthesia providers reported seldom inquiring about contraceptive use among women of childbearing potential and rarely discussing potential risk of contraceptive failure from sugammadex exposure. Most lack accurate knowledge of sugammadex interference with hormonal intrauterine and subcutaneous contraceptive devices. Although most endorse preoperative counseling and support patient autonomy or shared decision-making regarding choice of reversal agent, the same respondents report rarely, if ever, actualizing these positions in clinical practice. These conflicting findings highlight the need for education regarding residual neuromuscular block versus adverse drug interactions, collaboration among providers involved in patient counseling, and intentional mindfulness of reproductive justice when caring for women of childbearing potential.

Pre- and post-operative counseling for women on hormonal contraceptives receiving sugammadex at an academic hospital

Sugammadex is a steroid binder and can potentially bind the estrogens and progestins contained within hormonal contraception. Therefore, the FDA label for sugammadex contains a drug-drug interaction warning between this medication and hormonal contraception, advising that women taking hormonal contraception use a backup contraceptive method or abstinence for seven days after exposure to sugammadex. However, given concerns that this warning may not be appropriately provided to at-risk patients, we conducted a retrospective chart review to identify women administered sugammadex while using hormonal contraception to identify documented counseling on this drug-drug interaction prior to implementation of a formalized counseling process. We reviewed 1000 randomly selected charts from the University of Colorado Hospital between January 2016 and December 2017. We identified 134 women using hormonal contraception at the time of sugammadex exposure; only one patient (0.7%, 95% CI 0.0, 4.1) had documented counseling. One patient had an unintended pregnancy within the same cycle as her exposure to sugammadex. Improved counseling processes are needed to avoid unnecessary risk for unintended pregnancies.

Sugammadex: Applications in Pediatric Critical Care

Sugammadex is a novel pharmacologic agent, which reverses neuromuscular blockade with a mechanism that differs from acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as neostigmine. There is a growing body of literature demonstrating its efficacy in pediatric patients of all ages. Prospective trials have demonstrated a more rapid and more complete reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade than the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, neostigmine. Unlike the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, sugammadex effectively reverses intense or complete neuromuscular blockade. It may also be effective in situations where reversal of neuromuscular blockade is problematic including patients with neuromyopathic conditions or when acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are contraindicated. This article reviews the physiology of neuromuscular transmission as well as the published literature, regarding the use of sugammadex in pediatric population including the pediatric intensive care unit population. Clinical applications are reviewed, adverse effects are discussed, and dosing algorithms are presented.