Overview
Reversal of effect of skeletal muscle relaxant is a procedure done usually after the completion of surgery and given any time after the administration of the skeletal muscle relaxants. Skeletal muscle relaxants are drugs that cause relaxation of the skeletal muscles. Some examples of skeletal muscle relaxants are suxamethonium, rocuronium and vecuronium. The reversal of the effects of these skeletal muscle relaxants after the surgery can be done with edrophonium, pyridostigmine, neostigmine and sugammadex. These drugs are also known as antidotes. They act as antagonists to the non-depolarizing skeletal muscle relaxants. They act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase hence increasing the cholinergic transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Sugammadex, a newer type of reversal agent, act by selectively binding to the muscle relaxant agents hence reversing their effect. The reversal of effect of the skeletal muscle relaxant after surgery is extremely crucial. Incomplete reversal may lead to complications such as bronchoconstriction, residual paralysis and respiratory failure.
