title: A comparison of antagonism of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade during sevoflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia.
abstract: Volatile anaesthetic agents potentiate neuromuscular blocking agents and retard their rate of reversal. We hypothesised that there was a difference in the rate of reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade based on the selection of inhalation agent. Thirty-eight patients undergoing elective surgical procedures received either sevoflurane or isoflurane, by random allocation. Neuromuscular blockade was induced using rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg-1 followed by continuous intravenous infusion to maintain 90% suppression of the single twitch response. Upon completion of surgery, the rocuronium infusion was discontinued, neostigmine 50 microg.kg-1 and glycopyrrolate 10 microg.kg-1 were administered. Times from reversal to T1 = 25, 50 and 60% and train-of-four ratio = 0.6 were recorded. The mean (SD) times to train-of-four ratio = 0.6 in the isoflurane and sevoflurane groups were 327 (132) and 351 (127) s, respectively. The mean (SD) times to single twitch response T1 = 25, 50 and 60% in the isoflurane group were 81 (33), 161 (59) and 245 (84) s, respectively, and in the sevoflurane group were 95 (35), 203 (88) and 252 (127) s, respectively. It is concluded that reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade is similar during isoflurane and sevoflurane anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Sutcliffe
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maslow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uppington
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Shorten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000732:Androstanols / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077123:Rocuronium; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D000077123:Rocuronium