Rocuronium for Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

 Cardiac/aortic surgery can dramatically change physiological parameters such as respiration, circulation, body temperature, and electrolyte level. Although the surgery per se is invasive, fast-track anesthesia, which could lead to benefits for patients, is needed. Rocuronium has a rapid onset, and thus it would be useful to prevent opioid-induced muscle rigidity. Because the main metabolite of rocuronium has few muscle-relaxant effects, unexpected prolonged muscle relaxation is rare after surgery. Rocuronium is, therefore, expected to be safe and useful in cardiac/aortic surgery as well as other kinds of surgery. It is needless to say that we should pay attention to the potency of rocuronium during cardiac/aortic surgery, because the potency and the metabolism of it can be changed by hypothermia, hemodilution, and electrolyte abnormalities, as well as by complicated organ failure.