Quantitative Relationships between Pulmonary Function and Residual Neuromuscular Blockade

Abstract EN

Background.

Neuromuscular blockade is a risk factor for postoperative respiratory weakness during the immediate postoperative period.

The quantitative relationships between postoperative pulmonary-function impairment and residual neuromuscular blockade are unknown.

Methods.

113 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in this study.

They all had a pulmonary-function test (PFT) during the preoperative evaluation.

Predictive values based on demographic data were also recorded.

The train-of-four ratio (TOFR) was recorded at the same time as the PFT and at every 5 minutes in the qualified 98 patients in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

We analyzed the degree of PFT recovery when the TOFR had recovered to different degrees.

Results.

There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the preoperative baseline value and the postoperative forced vital capacity at each TOFR point, except at a TOFR value of 1.1.

There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) between the preoperative baseline value and the postoperative peak expiratory flow at each TOFR point.

Conclusions.

Postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade was common (75.51%) after tracheal extubation, and pulmonary function could not recover to an acceptable level (85% of baseline value), even if TOFR had recovered to 0.90.

Trial Registration.

Chinese Clinical Trial Register is ChiCTR-OOC-15005838.