Following emergence from anesthesia and before extubation, how is strength assessed?

Following emergence from anesthesia and before extubation, how is strength assessed?

Neuromuscular transmission can be assessed in many ways. Patients can accomplish sustained head-lift for 5 seconds while 33% of receptors are still occupied or blocked. Sustained tetanus of 100 Hz for 5 seconds may be seen with 50% of receptors blocked. Negative inspiratory force of –20 cm H₂O also may be accomplished with 50% of receptors occupied. These measurements of neuromuscular strength suggest that patients can maintain adequate minute ventilation in the face of residual impairment of neuromuscular transmission. More recent data suggest that these parameters may not correspond with the ability to maintain control of the airway. Inspiratory forces of –40 cm H₂O may be required to ensure airway control. Other measures such as tidal volume of 6 mL/kg, TOF >70%, and vital capacity of 15 mL/kg are relatively insensitive meas-ures of strength.

The myasthenic patient represents a special case where these numbers may not apply. Their disease, rather than residual neuromuscular blockade, may prevent myasthen-ics from reaching full strength. Consequently, preoperative measures of strength are important for postoperative comparisons. Such tests include negative inspiratory force, maximum breathing capacity, vital capacity, and tidal volume. Before the administration of an anesthetic drug that may interfere with neuromuscular transmission, a control electromyogram or TOF should be recorded. Response to tetanic stimulation should be assessed after induction of anesthesia and before administration of drugs that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.

Residual weakness on emergence from anesthesia must not automatically be assumed to represent residual muscle relaxant blockade. Inhaled anesthetics, antibiotics, local anes-thetics, anticonvulsants, and β-blockers may interfere with neuromuscular transmission (Table 27.1).