[Storage at room temperature does not change cisatracurium onset time: a prospective, randomized, double-blind...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Current guidelines recommend storing cisatracurium at +4°C.
• In vitro studies suggest room temperature storage does not significantly degrade cisatracurium.
• The clinical impact of storage temperature on cisatracurium's efficacy remains to be fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of cisatracurium storage temperature on its onset time in patients.
• To compare the onset of neuromuscular blockade when cisatracurium is stored at room temperature versus refrigeration.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted.
• Thirty patients were divided into two groups: room temperature storage (n=15) and +4°C storage (n=15).
• Cisatracurium (0.15mg/kg) was administered, and onset time was the primary endpoint.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in cisatracurium onset time was observed between the room temperature group (235 seconds) and the refrigerated group (240 seconds) (p=0.51).
• Subgroup analysis confirmed no difference in onset time for cisatracurium stored at room temperature for 1-3 weeks.
• 100% of patients achieved excellent intubation scores.

Conclusions:

• Storage of cisatracurium at room temperature does not influence its onset time.
• This study supports the preservation of cisatracurium at room temperature for up to 21 days.
• Optimizing neuromuscular blockade monitoring can enhance intubation quality.