title: Sugammadex for reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in pediatric patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that sugammadex, a modified γ-cyclodextrin, is a well-tolerated agent for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) induced by a steroidal neuromuscular blocking drug in adult patients. However, its use has not been reviewed in pediatric patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sugammadex in the reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB during surgery under general anesthesia in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed using the Pubmed, EMBASE: Drugs and pharmacology, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3. Data collected from different trials were pooled; the weighted mean difference or the pooled risk ratio and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for analysis, and heterogeneity (I) assessment was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six randomized controlled trials comparing 253 pediatric patients (age range, 2-18 years) were included in the final analysis. The mean time taken to reach a train-of-four ratio of ≥0.9 was significantly shorter in the sugammadex groups (2 and 4 mg/kg) than in the control group (neostigmine or placebo), although the heterogeneity was high. The weighted mean differences of the 2 and 4 mg/kg sugammadex groups were -7.15 (95% CI: -10.77 to -3.54; I = 96%; P = 0.0001) and -17.32 (95% CI: -29.31 to -5.32; I = 98%; P = 0.005), respectively. The extubation time in the sugammadex group was shorter than that in the control group; the weighted mean difference of the sugammadex group was -6.00 (95% CI: -11.46 to -0.53; I = 99%; P = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the incidence of postanesthetic adverse events; the pooled risk ratio was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.27-1.71; I = 59%; P = 0.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that sugammadex is fast and effective in reversing rocuronium-induced NMB in pediatric patients. Although there was no evidence of a higher incidence of adverse events with sugammadex compared to that with neostigmine or placebo, much more data regarding the safety of sugammadex in pediatric patients may be still required.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Won
authors: Byung Gun
authors: BG
authors: Lim
authors: Dong Kyu
authors: DK
authors: Lee
authors: Heezoo
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Myoung Hoon
authors: MH
authors: Kong
authors: Il Ok
authors: IO
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000732:Androstanols; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000819:agonists*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077123:Rocuronium; D000077122:Sugammadex; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D047408:gamma-Cyclodextrins; D000077122:Sugammadex; D000077123:Rocuronium