Atracurium is associated with postoperative residual curarization
C McCaul1, E Tobin, J F Boylan
1Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Background:
Residual paralysis following the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs remains a clinical problem. As part of departmental quality assurance, we examined the degree of postoperative residual curarization (PORC) following atracurium.
Methods:
Forty patients undergoing general anaesthesia involving atracurium were studied. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring (mechanomyography, Myograph 2000, Biometer, Denmark) was performed by assessing the response to supramaximal train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Anaesthesia was provided by non-participating clinicians who were blinded to the study data. A TOF ratio
Results:
At antagonism of neuromuscular block, 70% (28/40) of patients had a TOF ratio
Conclusions:
PORC remains a clinical problem despite use of intermediate-duration neuromuscular blocking drugs and peripheral nerve stimulators. Patients undergoing procedures of short duration may be at risk of inappropriately early tracheal extubation, possibly due to work pressures. The association between suboptimal antagonism of neuromuscular blockade and short procedures needs reinforcement during postgraduate training and departmental quality assurance.
