Effects of sevoflurane on cisatracurium-produced neuromuscular block

Objective To evaluate the effects of sevoflurane on cisatracurium-produced neuromuscular block.Methods Sixty patients undergoing selective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups with 20 cases each.Anesthesia was maintained with propofol infusion(group P),1.7% sevoflurane(group S1) or 2.2% sevoflurane inhalation(group S2),respectively.Cisatracurium 0.1 mg/kg was administered at 15 min after intubation,which was followed by continuous infusion.Neuromuscular block was monitored using train-of-four(TOF) stimulation and adjusted manually to keep T1 in 3% to 5%.The onset time,the time of T1 5% recovery,infusion rates per 30 min,recovery index and the times of T1 recovery from 5% to 25% and 75% were recorded.Results The onset time of cisatracurium and infusion rates were significantly shorter and the times of T1 5% recovery and T1 recovery from 5% to 25% were significantly longer in groups of S1 and S2 than those in group P.There was no significant difference in the recovery index among three groups.Conclusion Sevoflurane can enhance the neuromuscular block effect of cisatracurium in the time-and dose-dependent manner.