Postoperative respiratory outcomes in laparoscopic bariatric surgery: Comparison of a prospective group of patients whose neuromuscular blockade was reverted with sugammadex and a historical one reverted with neostigmine

PurposeBariatric surgery patients are at high risk of perioperative respiratory adverse events. We hypothesized that the use of sugammadex to reverse neuromuscular blockade could improve postoperative respiratory outcomes.MethodsProspective observational series of consecutive patients scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery in whom neuromuscular blockade was reverted with sugammadex were compared with a historical matched cohort of patients reverted with neostigmines. The necessity of postoperative mechanical ventilation or pathological changes in postoperative chest X-ray were two of the comparisons done.ResultsWe enrolled 160 patients in each group (Sugammadex – SG and Historical – HG). Two patients (mean, CI 95%), (1.25, 0.34–4.4) in the SG and five patients in the HG (mean, CI 95%), (3.13, 1.34–7.11) required mechanical ventilation immediately after surgery (p = 0.38, chi-square test). Significantly less chest X-ray postoperative changes were observed in the SG: 11 patients (6.9%) versus 26 patients (16.3%) in the HG (Odds ratio OR, CI 95%) (0.36, 0.18–0.8).ConclusionRequirement of mechanical ventilation is not associated to the reversal agent employed. Less pathological postoperative chest X-ray changes were found in the group of patients whose neuromuscular blockade was reverted with sugammadex.