Key result
Pancuronium was the preferred muscle relaxant for non-fast-track and fast-track cardiac patients (74% and 54%, respectively), with objective neuromuscular monitoring used by only a small minority.
Why the study?
What are the preferred non-depolarising muscle relaxants and methods of neuromuscular function assessment among consultant cardiac anaesthetists in the UK?
Cross-Sectional (n=310)
Yes
What are the preferred non-depolarising muscle relaxants and methods of neuromuscular function assessment among consultant cardiac anaesthetists in the UK?
Pancuronium remains the preferred muscle relaxant for cardiac anaesthesia in the UK, with objective neuromuscular monitoring rarely used.
Pancuronium preference and rare objective monitoring persist in UK cardiac anaesthesia; leaves open whether practice requires prospective safety evaluation.
A questionnaire survey was conducted of 310 consultant cardiac anaesthetists in the United Kingdom.We asked which nondepolarising muscle relaxants they preferred for fast-track and non-fast-track patients, and how neuromuscular function was assessed prior to extubation.There was a 73% response rate.A single agent non-depolarising muscle relaxant technique was most prevalent.Pancuronium (either alone or in combination with another agent) was the first choice for non-fast-track and fast-track patients (74% and 54% respectively).A minority of anaesthetists (23%) modified their choice of nondepolarising muscle relaxant for fast-track patients; changing from pancuronium to a shorter-acting agent was the commonest adaptation.Twenty one percent of respondents indicated that an assessment of neuromuscular function was performed as part of an extubation protocol.Objective monitoring of neuromuscular function was only reported by a small minority (9% in theatre and 5% pre-extubation).This survey is the first part of a national audit of non-depolarising muscle relaxant use and monitoring in cardiac anaesthesia.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Briggs et al. (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiac anaesthesia practices (n=310). Muscle relaxant use and monitoring practices was evaluated on Preferred non-depolarising muscle relaxants and assessment of neuromuscular function. Pancuronium was the preferred muscle relaxant for non-fast-track and fast-track cardiac patients (74% and 54%, respectively), with objective neuromuscular monitoring used by only a small minority.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: