[Use of muscle relaxants under electrostimulation anesthesia (ESA)]

A comparative study was made of the consumption of muscle relaxants during electrostimulation anaesthesia (ESA) in comparison to halothane anaesthesia and neurolept anaesthesia. 441 operations (struma surgery, saphenous vein bypass grafts, varicotomies) showed a significantly raised consumption of muscle relaxants when performed under ESA. For struma surgery and varicotomies the consumption was 17.2% respectively 13.9% higher than during halothane anaesthesia and for vein bypass grafting 14.3% higher than during neurolept anaesthesia. The potentiating effect of inhalation anaesthetics on muscle relaxants and the possibility of an activation of the reticular formation via electrical stimulation of muscular and nervous tissues under ESA are discussed.