Neuromuscular blockade in cardiac surgery: an update for clinicians.

There have been great advancements in cardiac surgery over the last two decades; the widespread use of off-pump aortocoronary bypass surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, and robotic surgery have also changed the face of cardiac anaesthesia. The concept of "Fast-track anaesthesia" demands the use of nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs with short duration of action, combining the ability to provide (if necessary) sufficiently profound neuromuscular blockade during surgery and immediate re-establishment of normal neuromuscular transmission at the end of surgery. Postoperative residual muscle paralysis is one of the major hurdles for immediate or early extubation after cardiac surgery. Nondepolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs for cardiac surgery should therefore be easy to titrate, of rapid onset and short duration of action with a pathway of elimination independent from hepatic or renal dysfunction, and should equally not affect haemodynamic stability. The difference between repetitive bolus application and continuous infusion is outlined in this review, with the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of vecuronium, pancuronium, rocuronium, and cisatracurium. Kinemyography and acceleromyography are the most important currently used neuromuscular monitoring methods. Whereas monitoring at the adductor pollicis muscle is appropriate at the end of surgery, monitoring of the corrugator supercilii muscle better reflects neuromuscular blockade at more central, profound muscles, such as the diaphragm, larynx, or thoraco-abdominal muscles. In conclusion, cisatracurium or rocuronium is recommended for neuromuscular blockade in modern cardiac surgery.

[Comparison of three protocols in the control of cardiovascular response to suspended laryngoscopy in ENT surgery]

The objective was to compare the effect of three pharmacological agents on the hemodynamic response to suspended laryngoscopy in micro ENT Surgery. Double blind randomised prospective study having included: groupe A [n=16] having benefited before laryngoscopy of 150 mcg/kg esmolol, groupe B [n=16] 15 mcg/kg of nicardipine, groupe C [n=15] 1 mg/kg of lidocaine and groupe D [n=16], placebo group. All groups were comparable for demographic and anesthetic data. A significant reduction of the heart rate and pressure rate product were noted in esmolol group during the endoscopic act and maintained until arousal. Whereas there was no difference in the blood pressure during the procedure whatever the pharmacological agent for prevention of cardiovascular complications for patients to risk in micro ENT surgery