Abstract
There is considerable individual variation in the dose of vecuronium required for the maintenance of surgical relaxation. Therefore to provide uninterrupted relaxation without overdosage it is advisable to regulate the IV infusion of vecuronium on the basis of appropriate monitoring. Monitoring with mechanomyography (MMG) or electromyography requires costly equipment and is too complex for routine clinical use. Visual observation of the adductor pollicis muscle contracting against zero resistance is not suitable for the reliable assessment of the degree of neuromuscular (NM) block. For clinical purposes satisfactory monitoring can be achieved with the simple device (Myoscan) described. The reliability of the Myoscan was tested in 30 patients by simultaneous monitoring of the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis on one side with the Myoscan and on the contralateral side with the MMG. Retrospective analysis of the MMG indicated that the conduct of anaesthesia would have been virtually the same if it would have been based on MMG monitoring.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 134-138 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1988 |
Keywords
- Myoscan
- measurement techniques: neuromuscular blockade
- neuromuscular relaxants: vecuronium
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine