Neuromuscular Blockade Monitoring

Hana Harazim, MD, PhD, Tereza Bönischová, Adam Predáč
 Play the virtual scenario Česky Test your knowledge
Neuromuscular Blockade Monitoring

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) are drugs with potentially life threatening effects for the patient. Therefore the monitoring of neuromuscular transmission during the operation is done according to the Czech Society of Anaesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care and it is considered to be a standard procedure in patients care. The objective evaluation of the depth of relaxation gives the anaesthesiologist a valuable information that aids in his decision making about the immediate care. The main goal of this algorithm is to introduce the audience to the basic informations and options about neuromuscular monitoring and furthemore, to point to its importance in bringing the best possible care to the patient.

2018
neuromuscular blockade
residual curarisation
neuromuscular blocking agents
TOF
antagonist
Published at: 1.6.2018

Review

Prof. Milan Adamus, MD, PhD, MBA
Prof. Milan Adamus, MD, PhD, MBA
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University Hospital Olomouc and Medical faculty of Palacky University in Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is one of the components of balanced anaesthesia. To ensure it during the anaesthesia, a special drug called NMBA (neuromuscular blocking agent) is administered, which by the occupancy of the nicotine receptors of the neuromuscular plate causes paralysis of the striated muscles. This will allow for direct laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, and surgery.
The degree of muscle blockade can not be determined by clinical examination and for safe administration of muscle relaxants, instrumental monitoring of their effect is mandatory.

This algorithm describes how to measure the degree of NMB starting from anaesthesia induction (connecting the relaxometer to the patient, calibration of the device and timing of the tracheal intubation based on NMB measurement), the deep blockade monitoring and the importance of monitoring while maintaining the appropriate NMB depth during the surgery. Particular emphasis is placed on the period of recovery from the NMBA effect and detection of residual curarization at the end of anaesthesia. Described are the options of pharmacological reversal and the choice and timing of the reversal agent according to NMB measurements is defined.

World-wide initiatives of anaesthesia societies increasingly emphasize the requirement for safe anaesthetic care.1-3 It also applies to the up-to-date administration of NMBA that is only possible with instrumental monitoring. I consider this algorithm to be a valuable contribution to achieving this goal.

1. Adamus M, Černý V, Cvachovec K, et al. Stanovisko k přístrojové monitoraci hloubky nervosvalové blokády. Praha: ČSARIM 2017. Available at:
http://www.csarim.cz/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/stanovisko-k-pristrojove-monitoraci-hloubky.pdf
2. Adamus M., Cvachovec K., Černý V. et al. Zásady bezpečné anesteziologické péče. Anest intenziv Med. 2018;29:107–110.
3. Checketts MR, Alladi R, Ferguson K, et al. Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery 2015 : Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. Anaesthesia. 2016;71:85–93.

Sources

ADAMUS, Milan. Monitoring of neuromuscular transmission in anaesthesiology. Olomouc: Palacký University, 2007. ISBN 978-80-244-1718-9.

BARASH, Paul G., Bruce F. CULLEN a Robert K. STOELTING. Clinical anaesthesiology Praha: Grada, 2015. ISBN 978-80-247-4053-9.

ORTIZ-GÓMEZ, J. R., F. CARRASCOSA, J. J. PÉREZ-CAJARAVILLE, J. A. PERCAZ-BADOS a C. AÑEZ. Comparative study of intubating conditions at the first minute with suxamethonium, rocuronium and different priming techniques of rocuronium. European Journal of Anaesthesiology [online]. 2005, 22(4), 263-268 [cit. 2017-11-06]. DOI: 10.1017/S026502150500044X. ISSN 0265-0215. Available at : https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00003643-200504000-00004

STANKIEWICZ-RUDNICKI, Michał. Blokada nerwowo-mięśniowa u osób w podeszłym wieku. Anestezjologia Intensywna Terapia [online]. 2016, 48(4), 257-260 [cit. 2017-11-06]. DOI: 10.5603/AIT.2016.0045. ISSN 1731-2531. Available at :
https://journals.viamedica.pl/anaesthesiology_intensivetherapy/article/view/49318

FAGERLUND, Malin Jonsson, Heidrun FINK, Eva BAUMÜLLER, et al. Postanaesthesia pulmonary complications after use of muscle relaxants in Europe. European Journal of Anaesthesiology [online]. 2016, 33(5), 381-382 [cit. 2017-11-06]. DOI: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000363. ISSN 0265-0215. Available at : http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00003643-201605000-00013

KOPMAN, Aaron F., Nabeel A. KHAN a George G. NEUMAN. Precurarization and Priming: A Theoretical Analysis of Safety and Timing. Anesthesia & Analgesia [online]. 2001, 93(5), 1253-1256 [cit. 2017-11-06]. DOI: 10.1097/00000539-200111000-00042. ISSN 0003-2999. Available at : http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00000539-200111000-00042

OZTURK ARIKAN, Fatma Gulcin, Guldem TURAN, Asu OZGULTEKIN, Zubeyir SIVRIKAYA, Bekir Cem COSAR a Dondu Nisa ONDER. Rocuronium: automatic infusion versus manual administration with TOF monitorisation. Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing [online]. 2016, 30(5), 545-550 [cit. 2017-11-07]. DOI: 10.1007/s10877-015-9751-2. ISSN 1387-1307. Available at : http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10877-015-9751-2

GLASS, P. S. A., W. WILSON, J. A. MACE a R. WAGONER. Is the Priming Principle Both Effective and Safe?. Survey of Anesthesiology [online]. 1989, 4(2), 207- [cit. 2017-11-08]. DOI: 10.1097/00132586-198908000-00005. ISSN 0039-6206. Available at : https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00132586-198908000-00005

AZIZ, L., S. M. JAHANGIR, S. N. S. CHOUDHURY, K. RAHMAN, Y. OHTA a M. HIRAKAWA. The Effect of Priming with Vecuronium and Rocuronium on Young and Elderly Patients. Anesthesia & Analgesia [online]. 1997, 85(3), 663-666 [cit. 2017-11-08]. DOI: 10.1097/00000539-199709000-00032. ISSN 0003-2999. Available at : http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00000539-199709000-00032

LEDOWSKI, Thomas, Laura FALKE, Faye JOHNSTON, Emily GILLIES, Matt GREENAWAY, Ayala DE MEL, Wuen S. TIONG a Michael PHILLIPS. Retrospective investigation of postoperative outcome after reversal of residual neuromuscular blockade. European Journal of Anaesthesiology [online]. 2014, 31(8), 423-429 [cit. 2017-11-08]. DOI: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000010. ISSN 0265-0215. Available at : http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00003643-201408000-00006

OZTURK, Omur, Gulbin YALCIN SEZEN, Handan ANKARALI, Onur OZLU, Yavuz DEMIRARAN, Hakan ATES a Burhan DOST. Effect of Smoking on Reversing Neuromuscular Block. Turkish Journal of Anesthesia and Reanimation [online]. 2016, 44(4), 206-211 [cit. 2017-11-18]. DOI: 10.5152/TJAR.2016.97720. ISSN 21490937. Available at :
http://www.jtaics.org/jvi.aspx?pdir=tard&plng=eng&un=TARD-97720

MURPHY, Glenn S. a Sorin J. BRULL. Residual Neuromuscular Block. Anesthesia & Analgesia [online]. 2010, 111(1), 120-128 [cit. 2017-11-29]. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181da832d. ISSN 0003-2999. Available at : http://Insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00000539-201007000-00024

BRULL, Sorin J. a Glenn S. MURPHY. Residual Neuromuscular Block. Anesthesia & Analgesia [online]. 2010, 111(1), 129-140 [cit. 2017-11-29]. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181da8312. ISSN 0003-2999. Available at : http://Insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00000539-201007000-00025

PEARSE, Rupert M, Rui P MORENO, Peter BAUER, et al. Mortality after surgery in Europe: a 7 day cohort study. The Lancet [online]. 2012, 380(9847), 1059-1065 [cit. 2017-11-06]. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61148-9. ISSN 01406736. Available at : http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0140673612611489

MILLER, Ronald D. Miller's anesthesia. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, c2010. ISBN 9780443069598.

ADAMUS, Milan. Physiology of neuromuscular transmission. Muscular relaxants in anaesthesiology. In: News in anaesthesiology, algesiology and intensive care 2013: Omnibus from 5. conference CEEA, held in Košice between 27. - 29.11.2013. Prešov: Akcent print, 2013, page 73 - 78. ISBN: 978-80-89295-52-4
Available at : http://www.lf.upjs.sk/ceea/doc5/Zbornik%20CEEA%202013%205_kurz.pdf

STOURAC, P., M. ADAMUS, D. SEIDLOVA, T. PAVLIK, et al. Low-Dose or High-Dose Rocuronium Reversed with Neostigmine or Sugammadex for Cesarean Delivery Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial of Time to Tracheal Intubation and Extubation. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2016, 122(5).

ADAMUS, M., ČERNÝ, V., CVACHOVEC, K., et al. Stanovisko k přístrojové monitoraci hloubky nervosvalové blokády. ČSARIM, 2017. [online] Available at : http://www.csarim.cz/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/stanovisko-k-pristrojove-monitoraci-hloubky.pdf

ADAMUS, M., CVACHOVEC, K., ČERNÝ, V. , ROGOZOV, V., ŠTOURAČ, P. Zásady bezpečné anesteziologické péče. Doporučený postup ČSARIM, 2017. [online] Available at : http://www.csarim.cz/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/DP_CSARIM_Zasady_bezpecne_anestezie_final_101217.pdf

CHECKETTS, M. R., R. ALLADI, K. FERGUSON, et al. Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery 2015: Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. Anaesthesia[online]. 2016, 71(1), 85-93 [cit. 2018-05-30]. DOI: 10.1111/anae.13316. ISSN 00032409. Available at : http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/anae.13316

Related algorithms

Algorithms