Biomaterial Database

Residual neuromuscular blockade in the immediate postoperative period. 2002

Matthew W Kervin

Nursing Anesthesia Program, EB-221, School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

Neuromuscular blocking agents are among the most potent and dangerous drugs administered in the course of a general anesthetic. Their residual actions can have profound effects on a patient's ability to adequately ventilate. Understanding the basics of their actions and the methods of monitoring the level of neuromuscular blockade will assist the PACU nurse in diagnosing the cause of postoperative muscle weakness and hypoventilation. This article will review the mechanisms of action and monitoring of neuromuscular blocking agents, as well as provide a basic overview of postoperative complications involving hypoventilation and motor weakness.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008991	Monitoring, Physiologic	The continuous measurement of physiological processes, blood pressure, heart rate, renal output, reflexes, respiration, etc., in a patient or experimental animal; includes pharmacologic monitoring, the measurement of administered drugs or their metabolites in the blood, tissues, or urine.	Patient Monitoring,Monitoring, Physiological,Physiologic Monitoring,Monitoring, Patient,Physiological Monitoring
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009466	Neuromuscular Blocking Agents	Drugs that interrupt transmission of nerve impulses at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. They can be of two types, competitive, stabilizing blockers (NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS) or noncompetitive, depolarizing agents (NEUROMUSCULAR DEPOLARIZING AGENTS). Both prevent acetylcholine from triggering the muscle contraction and they are used as anesthesia adjuvants, as relaxants during electroshock, in convulsive states, etc.	Neuromuscular Blocker,Neuromuscular Blocking Agent,Neuromuscular Blockers,Agent, Neuromuscular Blocking,Agents, Neuromuscular Blocking,Blocker, Neuromuscular,Blockers, Neuromuscular,Blocking Agent, Neuromuscular,Blocking Agents, Neuromuscular
D012119	Respiration	The act of breathing with the LUNGS, consisting of INHALATION, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of EXHALATION, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more CARBON DIOXIDE than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration (	Breathing
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000465	Algorithms	A procedure consisting of a sequence of algebraic formulas and/or logical steps to calculate or determine a given task.	Algorithm
D016528	Postanesthesia Nursing	The specialty or practice of nursing in the care of patients in the recovery room following surgery and/or anesthesia.	Post-Anesthesia Nursing,Post-Surgical Nursing,Recovery Room Nursing,Nursing, Post-Anesthesia,Nursing, Post-Surgical,Nursing, Postanesthesia,Nursing, Recovery Room,Nursing, Post Anesthesia,Nursing, Post Surgical,Post Anesthesia Nursing,Post Surgical Nursing
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles