Immune-mediated neuromuscular disorders include pathologies of the peripheral nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscles. If overlap syndromes (or the association of almost two autoimmune disorders) are recognized, the simultaneous occurrence of several autoimmune neuromuscular disorders is rare. We describe two patients presenting the simultaneous occurrence of inflammatory neuropathy...

PURPOSE To review recent findings concerning neuromuscular blockade and monitoring at the larynx, the diaphragm, and the corrugator supercilii muscle. SOURCE This narrative review is based on recent publications. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Neuromuscular blockade at the larynx and the diaphragm is less intense than at the adductor pollicis muscle; the onset and offset of neuromuscular blockade is mo...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neurologic disease that affects the postsynaptic portion of the neuromuscular junction. It represents a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the diversity of disease manifestations and possibility of postoperative respiratory complications. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the importance of adequate monitoring of ...

Recombinant DNA technology and the development of the patch clamp technique for the recording of single channel activity have produced major advances in understanding the development of the neuromuscular synapse as well as functional aspects of neuromuscular transmission at the molecular level. In this abstract a short summary of the molecular mechanisms regulating neuromuscular synapse formati...

Children with neuromuscular diseases present a wide range of clinical manifestations and clinical implications for the anaesthesiologist. Neuromuscular diseases in children affect muscle strength by either directly weakening the muscle fibrils or indirectly by a degenerative nerve supply and weak neuromuscular junction. Of the more than 200 neuromuscular disorders known, the vast majority are g...

Sugammadex is the first selective relaxant binding agent. It allows rapid reversal of any degree of neuromuscular blockade induced by steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents. Sugammadex acts by encapsulation of the neuromuscular blocking agent. This prevents the drug from acting on prejunctional and postjunctional nicotinic receptors, allowing acetylcholine to activate these receptors, and resu...