Abstract
Purpose
To review established techniques and to provide an update on new methods for clinical monitoring of neuromuscular function relevant to anesthesia.
Source
A PubMed search of relevant article for the period 1985–2005 was undertaken, and bibliographies were scanned for additional sources.
Principal findings
There is no substitute for objective neuromuscular monitoring; for research purposes, mechanomyography (MMG) is the gold standard; however, the most versatile method in the clinical setting is acceleromyography since it can be applied at various muscles and has a long track record of clinical utility. Kinemyography is valid to monitor recovery of neuromuscular transmission at the adductor pollicis muscle (AP), whereas phonomyography is easy to apply to various muscles and shows promising agreement with MMG. Monitoring of the corrugator supercilii muscle (CS) may be used to determine the earliest time for tracheal intubation as it reflects laryngeal relaxation better than monitoring at the A P. Recovery of neuromuscular transmission is best monitored at the A P, since it is the last muscle to recover from neuromuscular blockade (NMB). If train-of-four (TOF) stimulation is used, a TOF-ratio > 0.9 should be the target before awakening the patient. If surgery or the type of anesthesia necessitates NMB of a certain degree, e.g., TOF-ratio = 0.25, monitoring of muscles which best reflect the degree of NMB at the surgical site is preferable.
Conclusion
Objective methods should be used to monitor neuromuscular function in clinical anesthesia. Acceleromyography offers the best compromise with respect to ease of use, practicality, versatility, precision and applicability at various muscles. The CS is the optimal muscle to determine the earliest time for intubation, e.g., for rapid sequence induction.
Résumé
Objectif
Faire le point sur les techniques établies et fournir une mise à jour sur les nouvelles méthodes de monitorage clinique de la fonction neuromusculaire pertinentes à l’anesthésie.
Source
Une recherche PubMed d’articles pertinents de la période 1985–2005 a été effectuée, et des bibliographies ont été fouillées afin d’obtenir des sources supplémentaires.
Constatations principales
Il n’existe pas de substitut pour le monitorage neuromusculaire objectif; à des fins de recherche, la méchanomyographie (MMG) est l’étalon or (« gold standard »); l’accéléromyographie est la méthode la plus polyvalente dans un environnement clinique, étant donné qu’elle peut être appliquée à divers muscles et a depuis longtemps fait ses preuves d’utilité clinique. La kinémyographie est valable pour surveiller la récupération de la transmission neuromusculaire au niveau du muscle adducteur du pouce (AP), alors que la phonomyographie est facile à appliquer à divers muscles et démontre un accord prometteur avec la MMG. Le monitorage du muscle sourcilier (CS) peut être utilisé afin de déterminer le temps le plus court pour l’intubation trachéale, étant donné qu’il reflète la curarisation du larynx mieux que le monitorage de l’AP. La récupération de la transmission neuromusculaire est le mieux surveillée au niveau de l’AP, vu que ce muscle est le dernier à se rétablir d’un blocage neuromusculaire (BNM). Si une stimulation en train-de-quatre (TOF) est utilisée, un ratio de TOF > 0,9 devrait être l’objectif avant de réveiller le patient. Si la chirurgie ou le type d’anesthésie nécessite un BNM d’un certain degré, par exemple, un ratio de TOF = 0,25, le monitorage des muscles qui reflète le mieux le degré de BNM au site chirurgical est préférable.
Conclusion
Des méthodes objectives devraient être utilisées pour le monitorage de la fonction neuromusculaire en anesthésie clinique. L’accéléromyographie offre le meilleur compromis si l’on considère la facilité d’utilisation, l’aspect pratique, la flexibilité, la précision ainsi que l’applicabilité à divers muscles. Le CS est le muscle optimal pour déterminer le temps le plus court pour l’intubation, par exemple lors d’une induction à séquence rapide.
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Dr. Hemmerling is the recipient of the 2006 Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada/CAS Career Scientist Award in Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, which supports in part, his work in the field of neuromuscular research. Dr. Hemmerling has patents for phonomyography filed in Canada (Patent No. 2,415,173); and in the United States (Patent No. 10/730,811).
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Hemmerling, T.M., Le, N. Brief review: Neuromuscular monitoring: an update for the clinician. Can J Anesth 54, 58–72 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021901
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021901