Effect of neuromuscular block on surgical conditions during laparoscopic surgery in neonates and small infants

BACKGROUND Neuromuscular block (NMB) is routinely used in paediatric and adult anaesthesia to facilitate endotracheal intubation and optimise surgical conditions. However, there are limited data regarding NMB and optimising the conditions for laparoscopic surgery in neonates and small infants. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the effect of NMB on the conditions for laparoscopic surgery in neonates and small infants. DESIGN A randomised controlled trial. SETTING Single-centre Children's Hospital, conducted from November 2021 to December 2022. PATIENTS One hundred and two ASA I-II neonates and small infants aged up to 60 weeks postmenstrual age who were scheduled to undergo an elective laparoscopic Ladd's procedure were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomised into three groups: no NMB group, shallow NMB group and moderate NMB group. Each group was given different doses of rocuronium to achieve the target depth of NMB. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the quality of the surgical conditions evaluated with the Leiden-Surgical Rating Scale (L-SRS) by a blinded surgeon. Secondary outcomes included tracheal intubating conditions and adverse events. RESULTS The percentage of L-SRS scores of 4 or 5 was similar among the three groups at all the assessment times (P > 0.05 for each time interval). The distribution of L-SRS scores was also similar among the three groups. There were no significant differences in operating condition scores between the groups at any time interval (P > 0.05 for each time interval). The incidence of adverse events during anaesthesia induction was significantly higher in the no NMB group (51.4%) than in the other two groups (13.6% and 14.7%) (adjusted P = 0.012 and adjusted P = 0.003). In particular, clinically unacceptable intubation conditions occurred in 12 patients (34.3%) in the no NMB group, significantly more than in the shallow NMB group (6.1%, adjusted P = 0.012) and moderate NMB group (2.9%, adjusted P = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events in the PACU among the three groups (P = 0.103). CONCLUSIONS The depth of NMB was not associated with superior surgical conditions during laparoscopic surgery, but it was associated with a reduction in adverse events during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in neonates and small infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100052296).