PubMed · 1985513
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B K Bevacqua, W F Cleary. 1991. Everything old is new again.. https://doi.org/10.1213/00000539-199102000-00026
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PURPOSE: To determine whether detection of residual blockade is improved by using the accelerograph. A secondary objective was to compare acceleromyographic measurements with those obtained by electromyography. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized, double-blind investigation, 22 anaesthetized children were studied during recovery from neuromuscular blockade following 0.1 mg.kg-1 vecuronium i.v.. Assessments of depth of block began 10 min after injection and were repeated at one minute intervals using electromyography (Datex, Relaxograph) in one hand, and acceleromyography (Biometer, Tofguard) in the other, to measure response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the ulnar nerve. Monitoring was stopped when no fade was visible and TOF ratio > or = 0.7. The electromyographic (EMG) and acceleromyographic (AMG) data were compared with corresponding observations of the number of twitches and TOF fade in the visible responses of the thumb, made by the attending anaesthetist. The method of Bland and Altman was used to compare differences between AMG and EMG data. RESULTS: During recovery from neuromuscular blockade, fade was no longer visible clinically 38.6 +/- 10.4 min (mean +/- SD) after the administration of vecuronium. This corresponded to TOF ratios of 0.04 +/- 0.23 by AMG and 0.34 +/- 0.21 by EMG. Usually, two twitches were visible before AMG detected the first twitch. The time to TOF ratio > or = 0.7 by AMG and EMG was similar at 49.1 +/- 10.5 and 50.9 +/- 9.0 min, respectively. The bias between AMG and EMG was one minute, with limits of agreement from -10 to nine min. CONCLUSION: AMG is superior to visual assessment in detecting residual neuromuscular block and provides similar estimates of recovering block as the more cumbersome EMG.
UNLABELLED: Due to its low blood:gas partition coefficient (0.69) and its neutral odor, sevoflurane (S) is suitable for inhalational induction of anaesthesia. At the moment halothane (H) is preferentially used for this purpose due to its non-irritating odor and the smoothness of anaesthetic action. However, experience is limited with the use of S in children, and concern exists about potential renal toxicity of its metabolite, i.e. fluoride. Therefore, we compared S and H in an open, randomized phase III trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: With approval of the ethics committee and written informed parental consent, 40 children (age 1-10, mean 5.3 years, ASA class I and II) had anaesthesia induced without premedication (fresh gas flow 6 l/min, N2O/O2 = 65/35). Concentration of volatile anaesthetics was increased every 3-5 breaths (S: 0.8...3.2 vol%, H: 0.4...1.6 Vol%). The ciliary reflex was tested until it disappeared. Airway reflexes and excitation were quantified using a score. Upon venipuncture, relaxation and intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with S (Fi: 2.4 vol%) or H (Fi: 1.2 vol%) in N2O/O2 (3 l/min, etCO2 35-38 mm HG). Alfentanil was supplemented in repeated doses of 20 micrograms/kg. ECG, NIBP, SpO2, Fi and Fet of CO2 and volatile anaesthetics were continuously recorded. At the end of surgery anaesthetics were terminated abruptly and fresh gas flow was increased to 6 l/min O2. Time to the first purposeful movement was registered. Serum fluoride levels were determined immediately after venipuncture, at the end of surgery and 70 min later. Time to possible discharge from the PACU was quantified using a modified Aldrete score. Data were analysed with descriptive methods, Student's t-test or non-parametric tests as appropriate. RESULTS: Groups did not differ with respect to age, weight, sex, or type of surgery. Total dose of anaesthetics was 1.60 MACxh for S and 1.77 MACxh for H (p = 0.68). Table 6 shows the essential data. Mean arterial blood pressures and heart rate remained within +/- 20% of age-related normal values (Table 7). Mean serum fluoride level was 23.1 +/- 1.2 mumol/l at the end of surgery and decreased to 18.6 +/- 0.970 min later (Fig. 3). CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane is an alternative to halothane in pediatric inhalational anaesthesia, with a comparable, low incidence of airway irritation and smoothness of induction. Because of the significantly faster induction and recovery it seems superior to halothane. With the fluoride levels measured, an impairment of renal function is unlikely.