Monitoring neuromuscular transmission

Persistent neuromuscular blockade is not uncommon in the recovery room and contributes to postoperative morbidity and possibly mortality. The use of neuromuscular monitoring and intermediate rather than long-acting neuromuscular blocking drugs have been shown to reduce its incidence. Clinically available methods of detecting and quantitating neuromuscular blockade are reviewed. The writer concludes that such monitoring should be routine when neuromuscular blocking drugs are used.