title: Pharmacodynamic comparison of rocuronium bromide between patients from the plateau area and from the plain area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to conduct a pharmacodynamic comparison of rocuronium bromide between patients from the plateau area and from the plain area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 104 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital and Aba Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital from October 2015 to December 2015 were included in this study. Among them, 46 patients were from the plateau area and 58 were from the plain area. Both groups received total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with a dose of 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium bromide during induction. In the meantime, neuromuscular block was monitored using a train-of-four (TOF) stimulation mode. The onset time (time to achieve the lowest TOF value after the injection of rocuronium bromide), duration of maximal neuromuscular block (duration of lowest T1 value), time to 25% recovery, time to 75% recovery, recovery index (time from 25% recovery to 75% recovery), time to extubation, length of stay in Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and muscle strength upon PACU discharge were all recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The onset time, time to 25% recovery, time to 75% recovery and time to extubation were all significantly prolonged in patients from the plateau area after receiving one single dose of rocuronium bromide (P < 0.05). However, both groups didn't show any significant difference in maximal neuromuscular block, recovery index (time from 25% recovery to 75% recovery), length of stay in PACU, or muscle strength upon PACU discharge (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to patients from the plain area, patients from the plateau area showed prolonged onset time of rocuronium bromide, reduced metabolic capabilities, and longer duration of muscular relaxation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Aba Prefecture People's Hospital, Barkam, China.
authors.forename: Zhiyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Aba Prefecture People's Hospital, Barkam, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
keywords: Plateau area; pharmacodynamic comparison; plain area; rocuronium bromide; total intravenous anesthesia; train-of-four