Sugammadex is associated with better respiratory recovery than neostigmine following reversal of anaesthesia-associated neuromuscular blockade in the morbidly obese patients following elective laparoscopic surgery

Complete and reliable neuromuscular reversal is important to successful anaesthetic recovery in the morbidly obese patient undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Our goal was to determine whether sugammadex, a selective reversal agent is associated with better respiratory recovery than neostigmine following the reversal of anaesthesia-associated neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium in the morbidly obese. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate a surrogate marker for respiratory function, was the primary outcome measured and secondary outcome measures included post-operative nausea and vomiting, pain and head lifting. We found that patients reversed with sugammadex had a significantly higher post-operative PEFR as compared to those reversed with neostigmine and glycopyrrolate group.