title: The effect of changes in arm temperature on neuromuscular monitoring in the presence of atracurium blockade.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between arm temperature and the degree of blockade as monitored by peripheral nerve stimulation by a comparison of both arms of each patient; one exposed to the environment and the other wrapped to maintain its temperature. The decrease in the temperatures of the exposed arms were significantly more than the wrapped arms. A discrepancy was noted proportional to the temperature difference between the two arms, when the train-of-four counts were compared. A recommendation is made to maintain the temperature of the monitored arm above 32 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Southampton General Hospital.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Thornberry
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazumdar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm; D001279:Atracurium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium