Installation of the hand influences acceleromyography measurement. A comparison with mechanomyography during neuromuscular recovery.

Dubois, Philippe E [UCL] Gourdin, Maximilien [UCL] Russell, K. Jamart, Jacques [UCL]

Acceleromyography is commonly used to monitor perioperative neuromuscular blockade and to prevent residual neuromuscular blockade at the time of tracheal extubation. However, there are problems associated with this method, such as obtaining stable values, particularly beneath the surgical fields. We compared TOF ratios obtained on both hands simultaneously using on one side mechanomyography and on the other acceleromyography, installed in four different ways: the hand simply lying on a board, fingers fixed with tape, use of the hand adaptor or the TOF-tube. Further to maintaining free thumb movement, the TOF-tube improves feasibility of acceleromyography by reducing the measurement variability while retaining accuracy.