Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology
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We Japanese anesthesiologists can now use rocuronium as well as vecuronium. Although the onset of rocuronium is more rapid, the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agent has similar characteristics of duration and recovery compared to vecuronium. Reversal of NMB is therefore essential to recover patients safely. ⋯ Sugammadex is a novel and unique compound designed as an antagonist of rocuronium and possibly other steroid NMB agents. Sugammadex exerts its effect by forming very tight water-soluble complexes at a 1 : 1 ratio with steroid NMB agents (rocuronium>vecuronium>pancuronium). PhaseIII trials in Japan as well as Europe and the US have just been finished, and it is expected to be used clinically in the near future.
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A full stomach patient often requires a rapid sequence induction (RSI) technique to protect against gastric aspiration. Suxamethonium is the most common muscle relaxant used because it has a fast onset and a short duration. ⋯ However, it has been proved that suxamethonium creates superior intubation conditions to rocuronium in a large meta-analysis comparing intubation conditions. Once Org 25969 (sugammadex) is available to rapidly bind rocuronium and reverse its action, rocuronium may replace succinylcholine for rapid-sequence induction.
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How to titrate rocuronium under the specific conditions such as hepatic/renal failure, hypothermia, acidosis, and baby/aged, obese, with antibiotics, type of anesthetics, operation site and continuous infusion was discussed.
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In patients receiving a neuromuscular blocking agent, quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular function is essential. For this purpose, neuromuscular monitoring devices which provide train-of-four ratio values are necessary In the absence of a quantitative monitoring device, neuromuscular function may be evaluated with the use of a nerve stimulator. Muscle responses can be monitored either using the mechanomyography, electromyography, acceleromyography, or phonomyography. ⋯ Also, results from one monitoring method cannot be extrapolated to other methods. Anesthesiologists should be aware of these differences. In this article, the basics of neuromuscular monitoring are summarized.
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Curare was clinically used in a patient with acute appendicitis by Griffith and Johnson in January 1942. From the day on, the development of new muscle relaxants went on in the world. ⋯ At present, pancuronium, vecuronium and rocuronium are routinely used in the world. In the future, we expect development of new muscle relaxants with rapid onset, intermediate duration of action, rapid recovery and without side effects.