Muscle relaxants: a clinical update

Abstract

The doses of neuromuscular blocking agents must be chosen in such a way as to allow enough spontaneous recovery to occur before the end of the procedure so that anticholinesterase-assisted recovery is possible. Stimulation of the facial nerve and assessment of the response of the corrugator supercilii is useful to predict intubating conditions and as a guide to deep blockade. However, the adequacy of recovery is best assessed by adductor pollicis monitoring.