Neuromuscular block in patients 80 years and older: A prospective, controlled study

An increasing number of patients older than 80 years are undergoing anesthesia, but little information is available regarding pharmacodynamic efects of myorelaxants in this population. This study aims to compare the time course of rocuronium neuromuscular block in patients≥80 years with those of younger adults.

(2021) 21:225 Schmartz et al BMC Anesthesiol https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-021-01443-1 Open Access RESEARCH Neuromuscular block in patients 80 years and older: a prospective, controlled study Denis Schmartz1*, Raouf Sghaier2, Paul Bernard2, JeanFranỗoisFils3and ThomasFuchsBuder4 Abstract Background: An increasing number of patients older than 80 years are undergoing anesthesia, but little information is available regarding pharmacodynamic effects of myorelaxants in this population This study aims to compare the time course of rocuronium neuromuscular block in patients ≥ 80 years with those of younger adults Methods:  Under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and sufentanil, time course of a bolus of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg neuromuscular block was assessed with acceleromyography in patients ≥ 80 and in patients 20–50 years old Onset time, clinical duration, duration until 90% and 100% recovery of baseline were determined Results:  Data from 32 patients were analyzed, 16 were ≥ 80 years and 16 were 20–50 years old Demographic data are shown in Table 1 In the group ≥ 80, onset time was 190 s ± 46 s compared to 123 s ± 40 s in the group 20–50, P