Double burst stimulation with submaximal current
Ueda, N.; Masuda, Y.; Muteki, T.; Harada, H.; Tsuda, H.; Tobata, H.
European Journal of Anaesthesiology 11(5): 403-406
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0265-0215 PMID: 7988585 Document Number: 435615
The present study evaluated responses to double burst stimulation (DBS) at supramaximal and submaximal currents in 30 adult patients. Usually, DBS is applied with supramaximal stimulation, but this may be quite uncomfortable for the awake patient. Therefore, the authors investigated whether it is possible to obtain an accurate assessment of significant residual neuromuscular blockade if the stimulus current is reduced to 30 mA. In all patients, neuromuscular response to DBS three three (DBS-3.3), DBS three two (DBS-3.2) and train-of-four (TOF) stimulation at supramaximal and/ or submaximal currents was recorded using a mechanomyograph, and the ratios of the fourth to the first twitch (T-4/T-1) induced by TOF stimulation at supramaximal current, and the height of the second response to the first (D-2/D-1) induced by DBS at 30 mA and supramaximal current were calculated. The relations between control T-4/T-1 ratios determined by supramaximal TOF stimulation and D-2/D-1 ratios determined by supramaximal DBS-3.3 and submaximal DBS-3.3 were Y = 0.99X + 0.08 and Y = 1.01X + 0.04, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the two regression lines. The same relation between T-4/T-1 ratios and D-2/D-1 ratios by DBS-3.3 were Y = 0.69X + 0.05 and Y = 0.72X + 0.02, respectively, and there was no significant difference. It is concluded that evaluation of the response to DBS at 30 mA has the same reliability as evaluation with supramaximal current.