The use of sugammadex in a patient with myasthenia gravis

Anaesthesia. 2010 Mar;65(3):302-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2009.06236.x. Epub 2010 Jan 23.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis, affecting neuromuscular transmission, leads to a large variability in sensitivity to depolarising and non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking drugs. We report the successful use of the modified mu-cyclodextrin sugammadex in a myasthenic patient to reverse a rocuronium-induced deep level of neuromuscular block. After spontaneous neuromuscular recovery of T2 (second twitch of the train-of-four series), we administered 2 mg.kg(-1) of sugammadex intravenously, reversing neuromuscular blockade to a train-of-four ratio (T4/T1) > 90% within 210 s. Sugammadex, in combination with objective neuromuscular monitoring, can be used to reverse rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in patients with myasthenia gravis, thereby avoiding the need for reversal with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Androstanols / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Anesthesia Recovery Period
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology*
  • Neuromuscular Blockade / methods
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Rocuronium
  • Sugammadex
  • gamma-Cyclodextrins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Androstanols
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
  • gamma-Cyclodextrins
  • Sugammadex
  • Rocuronium