Effective Management of Neuromuscular Blockade in Obese Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight adults are 4 times more likely to experience these problems; therefore, restoring
normal lung function requires the complete removal of any remaining neuromuscular blockade (NMB) and
maintenance of muscle relaxation. This study aimed to identify an effective procedure for NMB in obese patients
undergoing abdominal surgery. Materials and Methods: Our study included 34 participants ranging in age from
18 to 56 years, with a mean age of 36.8 ± 2.7 years. The study population comprised of 15 men (45%) and 19
women (55%). Participants were divided into two groups: The control group consisted of 21 individuals with
a normal body mass index (BMI), whereas the experimental group consisted of 13 individuals with a BMI that
varied between 30.1 and 40.0. Results: Patients in the control group, who responded to T2 and T3 stimulation in
the in the four-stimulation mode, received sugammadex (2 mg/kg), totaling 205.90 ± 11.14 mg. The experimental
group did not receive any medications to facilitate recovery from NMB. Patients in control group had a quicker
recovery time for NMB, averaging 48.00 ± 12.82 minutes, compared to Group 2, which averaged 64.91 ± 4.68 min
(t = −4.636; P < 0.0001). Conclusions: After surgery in obese individuals, it is essential to rapidly and absolute
revival of NMB and perform neuromuscular monitoring to evaluate the efficacy of removing the muscle relaxant
and ensuring that no residual NMB remains.