The role of mivacurium in contemporary anesthesiology: a narrative review

Background: Mivacurium is the shortest-acting non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) with a rapid onset of action that is mainly used for short procedures. Despite the fact that mivacurium has a very favorable average 6-minute recovery index after its infusion in comparison to the approximately 15–30 minutes for atracurium, mivacurium is still not really popular among practicing anesthesiologists. Many new studies showing the potential further benefits of implementing mivacurium into daily practice are still being published. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to focus on spreading the common knowledge about the detailed pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of mivacurium as a medication that has yet to be used widely by practicing anesthesiologists. Material and methods: The literature review was conducted using the common sources of original articles such as PubMed and Google Scholar from 1975 to September 2022. Results: Based on the literature review, we observed that Mivacurium at a dosage of 6μg produces a lower impact on hemodynamics, shorter intubation and extubation times, faster postoperative recovery, absence of the accumulation of neuromuscular blockade, higher safety, and no significant increase in allergic related adverse events in comparison with other NMBAs.Conclusions: Mivacurium is a muscle relaxant medication that is particularly suited for short-lasting surgical procedures. However, it is important to remember that existing mutations in the butyrylcholinesterase enzyme (BChE) may prolong the effect of the neuromuscular blockade due to significantly reducing plasma cholinesterase activity. Therefore, it is advised to stay cautious during its use as more research needs to be done to be able to thoroughly assess the potential advantages and disadvantages of mivacurium introduction in particular patients