Anaesthetic drugs & techniques
Comparison of supramaximal stimulation current determined by an electromyography-based neuromuscular monitor between obese and non-obese patients: A prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
Obesity is associated with higher supramaximal stimulation currents in EMG-based neuromuscular monitoring, which may be attributable to increased tissue depth.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing GA with electromyography (EMG)-based neuromuscular monitoring at the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle
- Participants
- 60 adults
- Exposure
- Obese vs non-obese patients
- Obesen = 30
- Non-obesen = 30reference
- Outcome
- Supramaximal stimulation current determined by device calibration
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Depth of ADM muscle and ulnar nerve (ultrasound)
- Significantly greater in the obese group
Monitoring reliability
- Obese patients in whom NMB onset and recovery could not be accurately determined under initial calibration
- 3
- Of these, reliable monitoring restored by manual increase in stimulation current
- 2
- Automatic calibration successful in all patients
Original publication
Comparison of supramaximal stimulation current determined by an electromyography-based neuromuscular monitor between obese and non-obese patients: A prospective observational study. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Published 13 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →