BMC Anesthesiology (Dec 2018)

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

  • Xiao-feng Zhang,
  • De-yuan Li,
  • Jing-xiang Wu,
  • Qi-liang Jiang,
  • Hong-wei Zhu,
  • Mei-ying Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-018-0666-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Background Laparoscopic surgery typically requires deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB), but whether deep or moderate NMB is superior for thoracoscopic surgery remains controversial. Methods Patients scheduled for thoracoscopic lobectomy under intravenous anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive moderate [train of four (TOF) 1–2] or deep NMB [TOF 0, post-tetanic count (PTC) 1–5]. Depth of anesthesia was controlled at a Narcotrend rating of 30 ± 5 in both groups. The primary outcome was the need to use an additional muscle relaxant (cisatracurium) during surgery. Secondary outcomes included surgeon satisfaction, recovery time of each stage after drug withdrawal [time from withdrawal until TOF recovery to 20% (antagonists administration), 25, 75, 90, 100%], blood gas data, VAS pain grade after extubation, the time it takes for patients to begin walking after surgery, postoperative complications and hospitalization time. Results were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Results Thirty patients were enrolled per arm, and all but one patient in each arm was included in the final analysis. Among patients undergoing moderate NMB, surgeons applied additional cisatracurium in 8 patients because of body movement and 5 because of coughing (13/29, 44.8%). Additional cisatracurium was not applied to any of the patients undergoing deep NMB (p < 0.001). Surgeons reported significantly higher satisfaction for patients undergoing deep NMB (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank sum test). The mean difference between the two groups in the time from withdrawal until TOF recovery of 25% or 90% was 10 min (p < 0.001). The two groups were similar in other recovery data, blood gas analysis, VAS pain grade, days for beginning to walk and mean hospitalization time. Conclusions Deep NMB can reduce the use of additional muscle relaxant and increase surgeon satisfaction during thoracoscopic lobectomy. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-15007117, 22 September 2015.

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