<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Background:</bold> Accumulating evidence indicates that objective neuromuscular monitoring and pharmacological reversal of neuromuscular block reduces the occurrence of residual muscle paralysis in the acute postoperative phase. However, objective neuromuscular monitoring is not a routine habit in anaesthesia. In order to change this situation, we wished to find out, as a first step to improvement, the current use of neuromuscular monitors and the custom of anaesthetists for reversal of neuromuscular block before tracheal extubation.<bold>Methods</bold> A ten-point questionnaire was available via the <italic>Surveymonkey</italic> website and the link was sent to 2202 Hungarian and Romanian anaesthetists by email.<bold>Results:</bold> Three hundred and two (13.7%) of the 2202 registered anaesthetists responded. Less than 10% of them regularly use neuromuscular monitors. They underestimated the occurrence of residual block; only 2.2% gave a correct answer. Neuromuscular monitors are available in 74% of hospitals but are scarcely used. One third of anaesthetists rarely or never use reversal; approximately 20% regularly reverse before extubation. The responders typically believe that clinical signs of residual block are reliable. Instead of monitoring, they use the “timing methods” for tracheal extubation such as time elapsed from last dose, the duration of action of relaxant, the number of top-up doses, the cumulative dose, the return of adequate respiratory tidal volume and the ability to sustain a 5 s head lift.<bold>Conclusions:</bold> We concluded that neuromuscular monitoring in these two European countries is suboptimal as is the reversal strategy. Given the fact that monitors are available in the hospitals, the mentality should be changed towards evidence based practice.</abstract>

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that objective neuromuscular monitoring and pharmacological reversal of neuromuscular block reduces the occurrence of residual muscle paralysis in the acute postoperative phase. However, objective neuromuscular monitoring is not a routine habit in anaesthesia. In order to change this situation, we wished to find out, as a first step to improvement, the current use of neuromuscular monitors and the custom of anaesthetists for reversal of neuromuscular block before tracheal extubation.Methods A ten-point questionnaire was available via the Surveymonkey website and the link was sent to 2202 Hungarian and Romanian anaesthetists by email.Results: Three hundred and two (13.7%) of the 2202 registered anaesthetists responded. Less than 10% of them regularly use neuromuscular monitors. They underestimated the occurrence of residual block; only 2.2% gave a correct answer. Neuromuscular monitors are available in 74% of hospitals but are scarcely used. One third of anaesthetists rarely or never use reversal; approximately 20% regularly reverse before extubation. The responders typically believe that clinical signs of residual block are reliable. Instead of monitoring, they use the “timing methods” for tracheal extubation such as time elapsed from last dose, the duration of action of relaxant, the number of top-up doses, the cumulative dose, the return of adequate respiratory tidal volume and the ability to sustain a 5 s head lift.Conclusions: We concluded that neuromuscular monitoring in these two European countries is suboptimal as is the reversal strategy. Given the fact that monitors are available in the hospitals, the mentality should be changed towards evidence based practice.

International survey of neuromuscular monitoring in two European countries: a questionnaire study among Hungarian and Romanian anaesthesiologists

Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care

Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy

Romanian Journal of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that objective neuromuscular monitoring and pharmacological reversal of neuromuscular block reduces the occurrence...

International survey of neuromuscular monitoring in two European countries: a questionnaire study among Hungarian and Romanian anaesthesiologists

Published Online: Jun 18, 2019

Page range: 45 - 51

Received: Feb 14, 2019

Accepted: Mar 30, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjaic-2019-0007

Keywords
neuromuscular blocking agents, neuromuscular monitoring, residual neuromuscular block, survey

© 2019 Adrienn Pongrácz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

International survey of neuromuscular monitoring in two European countries: a questionnaire study among Hungarian and Romanian anaesthesiologists

Published Online: Jun 18, 2019

Page range: 45 - 51

Received: Feb 14, 2019

Accepted: Mar 30, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjaic-2019-0007

Keywordsneuromuscular blocking agents, neuromuscular monitoring, residual neuromuscular block, survey

© 2019 Adrienn Pongrácz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
neuromuscular blocking agents, neuromuscular monitoring, residual neuromuscular block, survey