Effect of magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade: a randomised controlled study

Magnesium potentiates neuromuscular blockade. Sugammadex reverses rocuronium-induced blockade. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pre-treatment with magnesium sulphate on sugammadex reversal time for neuromuscular blockade. Seventy-three patients were randomly assigned to receive magnesium sulphate (40mg.kg(-1)) or saline intravenously. After anaesthetic induction, continuous train-of-four monitoring was performed and rocuronium was administered (0.6mg.kg(-1)). When a second twitch appeared, the patients received sugammadex (2mg.kg(-1)). The median (IQR [range]) reversal time of moderate neuromuscular blockade to a train-of-four ratio of 0.9 facilitated by sugammadex was 115 (93-177.5 [68-315]) s in the magnesium group and 120 (105-140 [70-298])s in the saline group (p=0.79). The median (IQR [range]) clinical duration was 45 (35.5-53 [22-102])min in the magnesium group and 37 (31-43 [19-73])min in the saline group (p=0.031). Pre-treatment with magnesium did not significantly affect sugammadex reversal time of moderate neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium.