Spontaneous recovery profile of rapacuronium during desflurane, sevoflurane, or propofol anesthesia for outpatient laparoscopy

Update on neuromuscular pharmacology

Since the introduction of d-tubocurarine into clinical practice, neuromuscular relaxants have been widely used in anaesthesia. Although their clinical use is easy, several points still require further attention and research. There is still a need for a drug with the clinical profile of succinylcholine but fewer unwanted side-effects. A better understanding of the effects of muscle relaxants on different muscles could help in their clinical use during the perioperative period. Much knowledge is needed about residual neuromuscular block and its detection in order to improve the quality of recovery from neuromuscular blockade. If some questions remain to be answered, several recent articles have increased our knowledge and should improve our clinical practice.

Anesthesia for operative endoscopy

Developments in both instruments and techniques have led to an increasing popularity of endoscopic surgery during the last two decades. Even though there are numerous advantages to using endoscopic surgery, life threatening surgical and anesthetic complications still exist. Precautions must be taken to cope with the potential complications. Anesthetic technique must provide optimal surgical conditions and lead to early recovery of the patient. Monitorization must allow safety of the patient during these potentially hazardous procedures. Both the anesthesiologist and the surgeon must be thoroughly aware of the potential complications of the procedure. This review discusses the physiological alterations occurring during operative endoscopy, the principles of anesthetic management and complications related both to surgery and to anesthesia techniques.