Comparison of deep or moderate neuromuscular blockade for thoracoscopic lobectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Impact of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum and deep neuromuscular blockade on surgeon satisfaction and patient outcomes in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients: A prospective randomised controlled study

INTRODUCTION

The impact of laparoscopic surgery on homeostatic systems necessitates careful consideration of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) management. This study investigated the effects of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) on surgeon satisfaction, haemodynamics and post-operative outcomes in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study design involves prospective randomised control. Ninety patients were assigned to low (7-10 mmHg, n = 45) or normal (12-16 mmHg, n = 45) IAP groups. Deep NMB, guided by train-of-four monitoring, was administered. This study evaluated surgical rating scale scores, haemodynamics and post-operative outcomes through a literature review. A computer programme (IBM, SPSS) was used for statistical analysis. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyse patients' IAP levels, additional NMB requirements, surgical rating scale scores and numerical rating scales. Patient demographics and other intraoperative and post-operative variables were analysed with Student's t -test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Values of P < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS

No significant demographic differences were observed. The low-pressure group exhibited lower post-operative pain ( P < 0.01) and reduced analgesia requirements ( P = 0.00). On analysis of the surgeon rating scale, no disparities were evident between the groups. NMB usage correlated with height and weight ( P < 0.01). Heart rate showed no intergroup differences. The MAP measured after 15 min was lower in Group L, and the difference was significant ( P = 0.023). The SAP measured after 30 min was lower in Group L, and the difference was significant ( P = 0.017). Blood gas values and surgical field visibility were unaffected by the IAP. The positive correlations between NMB, height and weight aligned with previous research.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy under low IAP, deep NMB and favourable post-operative outcomes. Despite these limitations, the findings contribute to optimising laparoscopic surgical approaches.

Sugammadex Safely Reduces Total Intubation Time in the Intensive Care Unit Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) at a Real-World Community Hospital

Background/Objectives: Early extubation is crucial for enhancing recovery from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Residual neuromuscular blockade (NMB) effects can hinder early extubation, potentially leading to reintubation, lung infection, and prolonged post-anesthesia stay. Sugammadex, a modified gamma-cyclodextrin, reverses the non-depolarizing NMB effects of the steroidal muscle relaxants rocuronium and vecuronium. The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends sugammadex administration when patients display a train-of-four (TOF) ratio of less than 0.9. Previous studies show that sugammadex decreases extubation times, reduces postoperative complications, and enhances patient comfort. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy of sugammadex in achieving extubation within six hours of intensive care unit (ICU) arrival post-CABG, defined as fast-track extubation (FTE). Results: Here, we report that although the total time of intubation in the ICU following CABG did not drop to the six-hour benchmark, it was substantially reduced by the administration of sugammadex in accordance with an FTE protocol. Furthermore, the risks of adverse events (e.g., anaphylaxis, heart failure) and postoperative complications (e.g., acidemia, hypoxemia, tachypnea) were unaltered. Conclusions: The use of sugammadex could, thus, reduce costs associated with prolonged intubation time and related complications without increasing morbidity or mortality.

Relationship between muscle mass ratio and rocuronium dose required for maintaining deep neuromuscular blockade: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) has benefits in various surgical procedures, however, precise quantitative neuromuscular monitoring is crucial for its proper maintenance and recovery. Neuromuscular blocking agent dosage relies on actual body weight (ABW), but this varies among individuals. Therefore, this study hypothesizes that there is a correlation between the rocuronium requirement for deep NMB and muscle mass ratio measured by bioelectric impedance analysis.

METHODS

Ninety adult female patients undergoing laparoscopic operation were enrolled in this study. Muscle and fat masses were assessed using a body composition analyser. Deep NMB, defined as a post-tetanic count of 1-2, was maintained through the continuous infusion of rocuronium. The primary outcome involves determining the correlation between the rocuronium dose required for deep NMB and the muscle mass ratio. Conversely, secondary outcomes included assessing the relationship between the rocuronium dose for deep NMB and fat mass ratio, and ABW. Additionally, we investigated their relationship with rocuronium onset time and profound blockade duration.

RESULTS

No relationship was observed between the muscle mass ratio and rocuronium dose required for maintaining deep NMB (r = 0.059 [95% CI = 0.153-0.267], p = 0.586). Fat mass ratio and ABW showed no correlation with the rocuronium dose, whereas rocuronium onset time was positively correlated with muscle mass ratio (r = 0.327) and negatively correlated with fat mass ratio (r = -0.302), respectively. Profound blockade duration showed no correlation with any of the assessed variables.

CONCLUSIONS

No correlation was detected between muscle mass ratio and the rocuronium dose required to achieve deep NMB.

Deep Neuromuscular Block for Endolaryngeal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine the safety and efficacy of deep neuromuscular block (NMB) for endolaryngeal surgery.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Ovid Medline, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP databases, and trial registry database.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria followed the PICOS principles: Participants, adults undergoing endolaryngeal surgery; Intervention, deep NMB performed during the surgery; Control, no-deep NMB performed; Outcomes, primary outcome: the incidence of clinically acceptable surgical conditions.

SECONDARY OUTCOME

the incidence of intraoperative complications (including vocal fold movement and coughing) and total incidence of postoperative complications [including postoperative residual curarization (PORC), postoperative sore throat (POST), and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)]. Study design, randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Duplicate publications, editorials, letters, abstracts, and reviews were excluded.

RESULTS

Four articles with 242 patients were identified for analysis. The results indicated that compared with no-deep NMB, deep NMB provides a higher incidence of clinically acceptable surgical conditions (98.36% vs. 76.67%; relative ratio [RR] = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.07-1.56), a lower incidence of intraoperative complications (10.83% versus 37.16%; RR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.21-0.49) (lower incidence of vocal fold movement [1.85% vs. 34%; RR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.41] and coughing [15.53% vs. 38.78%; RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27-0.66]). There were no differences in the overall incidence of postoperative complications (RR = 2.10, 95% CI: 0.12-36.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on current published evidence, deep NMB provides better surgical conditions with a higher incidence of clinically acceptable surgical conditions and a lower incidence of intraoperative complications (lower incidence of vocal fold movement and coughing) without increasing the overall incidence of postoperative complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 Laryngoscope, 133:2055-2065, 2023.

Does deep neuromuscular blockade provide improved perioperative outcomes in adult patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Deep neuromuscular blockade provides better surgical workspace conditions in laparoscopic surgery, but it is still not clear whether it improves perioperative outcomes, not to mention its role in other types of surgeries. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to investigate whether deep neuromuscular blockade versus other more superficial levels of neuromuscular blockade provides improved perioperative outcomes in adult patients in all types of surgeries. Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to June 25, 2022. Forty studies (3271 participants) were included. Deep neuromuscular blockade was associated with an increased rate of acceptable surgical condition (relative risk [RR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.11, 1.27]), increased surgical condition score (MD: 0.52, 95% CI: [0.37, 0.67]), decreased rate of intraoperative movement (RR: 0.19, 95% CI: [0.10, 0.33]), fewer additional measures to improve the surgical condition (RR: 0.63, 95% CI: [0.43, 0.94]), and decreased pain score at 24 h (MD: -0.42, 95% CI: [-0.74, -0.10]). There was no significant difference in the intraoperative blood loss (MD: -22.80, 95% CI: [-48.83, 3.24]), duration of surgery (MD: -0.05, 95% CI: [-2.05, 1.95]), pain score at 48 h (MD: -0.49, 95% CI: [-1.03, 0.05]), or length of stay (MD: -0.05, 95% CI: [-0.19, 0.08]). These indicate that deep neuromuscular blockade improves surgical conditions and prevents intraoperative movement, and there is no sufficient evidence that deep neuromuscular blockade is associated with intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, complications, postoperative pain, and length of stay. More high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed, and more attention should be given to complications and the physiological mechanism behind deep neuromuscular blockade and postoperative outcomes.

The effects of moderate neuromuscular blockade combined with transverse abdominal plane block on surgical space conditions during laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a randomized clinical study

Background

Deep neuromuscular blockade may be beneficial on surgical space conditions during laparoscopic surgery. The effects of moderate neuromuscular blockade combined with transverse abdominal plane block (TAPB) on surgical space conditions during laparoscopic surgery have not been described. This work investigated whether the above combination is associated with similar surgical space conditions to those of deep neuromuscular blockade.

Methods

Eighty patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group was treated with moderate neuromuscular blockade (train-of-four (TOF) count between 1 and 3) combined with TAPB (M group), while the control group was treated with deep neuromuscular blockade (D group), with a TOF count of 0 and a post-tetanic count (PTC) ≥1. Both groups received the same anesthesia management. The distance between the sacral promontory and the umbilical skin during the operation was compared between the two groups. The surgeon scored the surgical space conditions according to a five-point ordinal scale. Patients’ pain scores were evaluated 8 h after the operation.

Results

The distance from the sacral promontory to the umbilical skin after pneumoperitoneum was similar between the D group and M group (16.03 ± 2.17 cm versus 16.37 ± 2.78 cm; P = 0.544). The 95% confidence intervals of the difference in the distance from the sacral promontory to the umbilical skin between the two groups were − 1.45–0.77 cm. According to the preset non-inferior standard of 1.5 cm, (− 1.45, ∞) completely fell within (− 1.50, ∞), and the non-inferior effect test was qualified. No significant difference was found in the surgical rating score between the two groups. The dosage of rocuronium in the group D was significantly higher than that in the group M (P < 0.01). The M group had significantly lower pain scores than the D group 8 h after the operation (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Moderate neuromuscular blockade combined with TAPB applied to laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery can provide surgical space conditions similar to those of deep neuromuscular blockade. In addition, it reduces the use of muscle relaxants, relieves postoperative pain within 4 h after operation, and shorten the extubation time and stay in PACU when neostigmine was used as muscle relaxant antagonist.

Trial registration

chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000034621), registered on July 12, 2020.

Phonomyography on Perioperative Neuromuscular Monitoring: An Overview

Complications related to neuromuscular blockade (NMB) could occur during anesthesia induction, maintenance, and emergency. It is recommended that neuromuscular monitoring techniques be utilized perioperatively to avoid adverse outcomes. However, current neuromuscular monitoring methods possess different shortcomings. They are cumbersome to use, susceptible to disturbances, and have limited alternative monitoring sites. Phonomyography (PMG) monitoring based on the acoustic signals yielded by skeletal muscle contraction is emerging as an interesting and innovative method. This technique is characterized by its convenience, stable signal quality, and multimuscle recording ability and shows great potential in the application field. This review summarizes the progression of PMG on perioperative neuromuscular monitoring chronologically and presents the merits, demerits, and challenges of PMG-based equipment, aiming at underscoring the potential of PMG-based apparatuses for neuromuscular monitoring.

Comparison of Deep and Moderate Neuromuscular Blockade on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in Laparoscopic Gastrectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) improves the surgical conditions and is benefit for the postoperative recovery after laparoscopic surgery. However, the mechanisms of deep NMB in promoting the recovery of intestinal function have not been completely investigated. The objective of our study was to determine the impact of the deep NMB and moderate NMB strategy on the intestinal barrier function after laparoscopic gastrectomy. We collected patients undergoing elective laparoscopic gastrectomy. Patients were randomized to deep NMB (post-tetanic count 1–2) vs. moderate NMB (train-of-four count 1–2) during the surgery. Primary outcomes were time to flatus, serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate, and gut microbiota. Other outcomes were surgical condition scores, postoperative visual analog pain scores, and length of hospital stay. Ninety patients in deep NMB group and sixty patients in moderate NMB group completed the study. Main results showed that the time to flatus was decreased in deep NMB group (74 ± 32 h) than that in moderate NMB group (93 ± 52 h, P = 0.006). The level of serum D-lactate was statistically increased in the moderate NMB group than that in the deep NMB group (1,209 ± 224 vs. 1,164 ± 185 ng/ml, p < 0.001). But no significant differences could be detected in the level of DAO between the groups. Additionally, the 16s rRNA analysis indicated that gut microbiota were similar in Alpha diversity but distinct in Beta diversity. Furthermore, the beneficial bacteria, such as genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, were more abundant in the deep NMB group, while the potentially harmful bacteria were more abundant in the moderate NMB group. Our findings suggested that the intestinal mucosal barrier and gut microbiota were better preserved in deep NMB, which greatly improved the postoperative recovery of intestinal function after laparoscopic gastrectomy.

The effect of different depths of anesthesia monitored using Narcotrend on cognitive function in elderly patients after VATS lobectomy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various depths of anesthesia monitored using Narcotrend on cognitive function in elderly patients after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy.

METHODS

A total of 73 elderly patients who underwent VATS lobectomy were selected and divided into a control group (n=36) and an observation group (n=37) using a random number table. Both groups received general anesthesia. The Narcotrend index (NTI) of the control group was maintained at 50-59 and that of the observation group was maintained at 30-39.

RESULTS

The heart period (HP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) from both groups were decreased first, and then were increased during T₁-T₅; the MAP levels at T₂, T₃ , and T₄ were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The propofol dosage was higher and the awake to extubation time was greater in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was lower in the observation group than in the control group at 6 h and 12 h after surgery (P < 0.05). The left and right regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) at T₃ -T₄ was higher in the observation group and the cerebral oxygen extraction ratio (CERO₂) was lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The anesthetic depth that maintained an NTI of 30-39 as monitored using Narcotrend could improve cerebral oxygen metabolism, inhibit the inflammatory reaction, and reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in patients after VATS lobectomy.

Neuromuscular and Clinical Recovery in Thoracic Surgical Patients Reversed With Neostigmine or Sugammadex

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing thoracoscopic procedures may be at high-risk for incomplete neuromuscular recovery and associated complications. The aim of this clinical investigation was to assess the incidence of postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade in adult thoracic surgical patients administered neostigmine or sugammadex when optimal dosing and reversal strategies for these agents were used. The effect of choice of reversal agent on hypoxemic events and signs and symptoms of muscle weakness were also determined. Additionally, operative conditions in each group were graded by surgeons performing the procedures.

METHODS

Two hundred patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgical procedures were enrolled in this nonrandomized controlled trial. One hundred consecutive patients maintained at moderate levels of neuromuscular blockade were reversed with neostigmine (neostigmine group) followed by 100 consecutive patients given sugammadex to antagonize deeper levels of neuromuscular blockade (sugammadex group). Anesthetic and neuromuscular management were standardized. Surgeons rated operative conditions at the conclusion of the procedure on a 4-point scale (grade 1 = excellent to grade 4 = poor). Train-of-four ratios were measured immediately before extubation and at PACU admission (primary outcomes). Postoperatively, patients were assessed for adverse respiratory events and 11 signs and 16 symptoms of muscle weakness.

RESULTS

The 2 groups were similar in intraoperative management characteristics. The percentage of patients with residual neuromuscular blockade, defined as a normalized train-of-four ratio <0.9, was significantly greater in the neostigmine group than the sugammadex group at both tracheal extubation (80% vs 6%, respectively, P < .0001) and PACU admission (61% vs 1%, respectively, P < .0001). Patients in the neostigmine group had less optimal operative conditions (median score 2 [good] versus 1 [excellent] in the sugammadex group; P < .0001), and more symptoms of muscle weakness were present in these subjects (median number [interquartile range] 4 [1-8] vs 1 [0-2] in the sugammadex group, P < .0001). No differences between groups in adverse airway events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the application of strategies documented to reduce the risk of residual neuromuscular blockade, a high percentage of thoracoscopic patients whose neuromuscular blockade was reversed with neostigmine were admitted to the PACU with clinical evidence of residual paralysis. In contrast, muscle weakness was rarely observed in patients whose neuromuscular blockade was antagonized with sugammadex.