Effect of magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade: a randomised controlled study

Summary Magnesium potentiates neuromuscular blockade. Sugammadex reverses rocuronium‐induced blockade. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre‐treatment with magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade. Seventy‐three patients were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulphate (40 mg.kg −1 ) or saline intravenously. After anaesthetic induction, continuous train‐of‐four monitoring was performed and rocuronium was administered (0.6 mg.kg −1 ). When a second twitch appeared, the patients received sugammadex (2 mg.kg −1 ). The median (IQR [range]) reversal time of moderate neuromuscular blockade to a train‐of‐four ratio of 0.9 facilitated by sugammadex was 115 (93−177.5 [68−315]) s in the magnesium group and 120 (105−140 [70−298]) s in the saline group (p = 0.79). The median (IQR [range]) clinical duration was 45 (35.5−53 [22−102]) min in the magnesium group and 37 (31−43 [19−73]) min in the saline group (p = 0.031). Pre‐treatment with magnesium did not significantly affect sugammadex reversal time of moderate neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium.