Kardiorelax 2011 - a five-day obsevational study of neuromuscular blockade during adult cardiac surgery in the Czech Republic
Abstract
Objective: To obtain data about the use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) during general anaesthesia in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the Czech Republic. Materials and methods: Patients whose anesthetic care was provided between June 6 (7 AM) and June 11 (7 AM) were enrolled.
Data of each patient were entered into a web-based questionnaire and information relevant to neuromuscular blockade was collected. Results: During the study period, 183 patients (173 on cardiopulmonary bypass) were anesthetized.
Tracheal intubation (172 patients) was facilitated most often by non-depolarizing NMBAs: rocuronium (31.1%), pancuronium (16.9%), atracurium (14.8%), cisatracurium (13.7%), and suxamethonium 2.2%. Neuromuscular blockade was maintained most frequently with rocuronium (24.0%), cisatracurium (15.8%), pancuronium (12.0%), atracurium (14.8%), and vecuronium (11.5%).
Neuromuscular blockade was not reversed in any patient. Monitoring of neuromuscular blockade was not used in any patient.
Conclusion: For induction and maintenance of neuromuscular blockade, predominantly intermediate NMBAs were used. In the Czech Republic, neither neuromuscular blockade monitoring nor pharmacological reversal is used during cardiac surgery in adult patients