DEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING DRUGS

Course overview

NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING AGENTS ARE COMMONLY USED TO PARALYZE PATIENTS REQUIRING INTUBATION WHETHER IN AN EMERGENCY AS A LIFE-SAVING INTERVENTION OR AS A SCHEDULED SURGERY AND PROCEDURE. THE INDICATIONS FOR INTUBATION DURING AN EMERGENCY CAN BE DIVIDED INTO 3 CATEGORIES: FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OR PROTECT THE AIRWAY, FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY VENTILATE OR OXYGENATE, AND ANTICIPATION OF A DECLINE IN CLINICAL STATUS. THIS ACTIVITY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILE, OFF-LABEL USES, DOSING, PHARMACODYNAMICS, PHARMACOKINETICS, MONITORING, RELEVANT INTERACTIONS OF THESE AGENTS, PERTINENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WHERE A NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE IS NEEDED.