Erythemas caused by electrodes while monitoring neuromuscular blockade: three cases.
Skin erythemas formed in three patients during surgery at the sites where negative electrodes had been attached to stimulate the ulnar nerve for a neuromuscular transmission monitor (Relaxograph). The patients were all women, aged 52, 62, and 74 years, and general anesthesia lasted 8 h 20 min, 4 h 50 min, and 8 h 45 min, respectively. The electrodes used were disposable ECG electrodes in the first two patients and one designed for a neuromuscular monitor in the third; all were carbon-coated and then covered with gel. However, when the electrodes were detached from the lesion, they all showed loss or damage of the carbon coating under the gel. We recommend balancing the merit of monitoring with the risk of complications, even when applying an apparently safe, noninvasive monitor.
Nakamura
Kumi
K
Department of Anesthesia, Kyoto City Hospital, 1-2 Mibu-Higashitakadacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8845, Japan.
Terasawa
Naoko
N
Konishi
Keisuke
K
Kino
Atsunari
A
Nakanishi
Izumi
I
Sumida
Hiroshi
H
Yamakawa
Tomoyuki
T
Kitamura
Rie
R
Tsutsumi
Kayoko
K
Toyoda
Setsuko
S
D000368:Aged; D004566:Electrodes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000009:adverse effects; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade