title: Effective reversal of moderate rocuronium- or vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block with sugammadex, a selective relaxant binding agent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sugammadex rapidly reverses rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. This study explored the dose-response relation of sugammadex given as a reversal agent at reappearance of the second muscle twitch after rocuronium- and vecuronium-induced block. A secondary objective was to investigate the safety of single doses of sugammadex.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this two-center, phase II, dose-finding study, 80 patients (age >or= 18 yr, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, surgery >or= 60 min requiring muscle relaxation for intubation) were randomly assigned to receive rocuronium (0.60 mg/kg) or vecuronium (0.10 mg/kg). Sugammadex or placebo was administered at reappearance of the second muscle twitch. The primary efficacy endpoint was time from starting sugammadex administration until recovery of the train-of-four ratio to 0.9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, sugammadex produced dose-dependent decreases in mean time to recovery for all train-of-four ratios in the rocuronium and vecuronium groups. The mean time for recovery of the train-of-four ratio to 0.9 in the rocuronium group was 31.8 min after placebo compared with 3.7 and 1.1 min after 0.5 and 4.0 mg/kg sugammadex, respectively. The mean time for recovery of the train-of-four ratio to 0.9 in the vecuronium group was 48.8 min after placebo, compared with 2.5 and 1.4 min after 1.0 and 8.0 mg/kg sugammadex, respectively. Sugammadex was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sugammadex rapidly reversed rocuronium- or vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block at reappearance of the second muscle twitch and was well tolerated. A dose-response relation was observed with sugammadex for reversal of both rocuronium- and vecuronium-induced neuromuscular block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Onze Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suy
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morias
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammu
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Wilbert G F
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: van Duijnhoven
authors.forename: Marten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heeringa
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000732:Androstanols / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077123:Rocuronium; D000077122:Sugammadex; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins; D000077122:Sugammadex; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D000077123:Rocuronium