Optimal Concentration of Remifentanil for NIM Tube Intubation With Low-dose NMBA

Summary

During thyroid surgery, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) plays a crucial role in preventing serious complications such as bilateral vocal cord paralysis. It achieves this by detecting damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and predicting the RLN's functional status. The utilization of Nerve Integrity Monitoring tubes (NIM tubes) is on the rise for effective IONM. As IONM relies on observing electromyographic (EMG) responses to direct electrical nerve stimulation, the routine use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in general anesthesia can impact the interpretation of IONM results and potentially reduce sensitivity to nerve responses to stimulation. However, the use of NMBAs is essential for ensuring smooth endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Numerous studies suggest that NMBA usage provides superior intubation conditions and reduces vocal cord complications compared to scenarios without NMBA. Various regimens for neuromuscular blockade methods are employed during IONM in thyroid surgery, ranging from not using NMBAs at all to using a full dose of NMBA for intubation. This is followed by the administration of sugammadex, an NMBA reversal agent, before nerve monitoring. One of the methods known for providing satisfactory intubation conditions while ensuring the quality of EMG signals during IONM in thyroid surgery is using rocuronium at an ED95 dose of 0.3 mg/kg. This approach is considered suitable for most IONM scenarios. However, when adequate muscle relaxation is not achieved, not all patients can undergo intubation, necessitating a strategy for appropriate intubation conditions. Historically, it has been reported that achieving satisfactory intubation conditions without the use of NMBA during general anesthesia requires higher amounts of propofol and opioids. Therefore, the assumption is made that using remifentanil, an opioid used in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), at an appropriate concentration can provide acceptable intubation conditions with minimal NMBA use for patients undergoing IONM. This study aims to determine the optimal concentration of remifentanil needed to achieve excellent intubation conditions in patients undergoing thyroid surgery with IONM using rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg as the NMBA during TIVA

Timeline

Start

2023-11-20

Primary completion

2024-03-10

Completion

2024-03-20

Publications

• Background Zheng S, Xu Z, Wei Y, Zeng M, He J. Effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring on recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rates after thyroid surgery--a meta-analysis. J Formos Med Assoc. 2013 Aug;112(8):463-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Sep 7.
• Background Marusch F, Hussock J, Haring G, Hachenberg T, Gastinger I. Influence of muscle relaxation on neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. Br J Anaesth. 2005 May;94(5):596-600. doi: 10.1093/bja/aei110. Epub 2005 Feb 25.
• Background Combes X, Andriamifidy L, Dufresne E, Suen P, Sauvat S, Scherrer E, Feiss P, Marty J, Duvaldestin P. Comparison of two induction regimens using or not using muscle relaxant: impact on postoperative upper airway discomfort. Br J Anaesth. 2007 Aug;99(2):276-81. doi: 10.1093/bja/aem147. Epub 2007 Jun 15.
• Background Lu IC, Wu SH, Wu CW. Neuromuscular blockade management for intraoperative neural monitoring. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2020 Apr;36(4):230-235. doi: 10.1002/kjm2.12153. Epub 2019 Nov 12.
• Background Grant S, Noble S, Woods A, Murdoch J, Davidson A. Assessment of intubating conditions in adults after induction with propofol and varying doses of remifentanil. Br J Anaesth. 1998 Oct;81(4):540-3. doi: 10.1093/bja/81.4.540.

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