Clinical Pharmacology of Drugs Acting at the Neuromuscular Junction

Since the first administration of d-tubocurarine in 1942 by Harold Griffith to facilitate muscle relaxation during an appendectomy, neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) have been a class ofMedications medications utilized by anesthesiologists and intensivists to facilitate the performance of invasive and painful procedures. NMBAs are administered to improve the quality of intubating conditions and decrease the incidence of vocal cord injury during airway instrumentation. Furthermore, the use of NMBAs to relax major skeletal muscle groups during intra-cavitary operations significantly improves surgical conditions. The utility of NMBAs is not limited to the perioperativePerioperative arena; they can be used to facilitate mechanical ventilationMechanical ventilation in patients with poor pulmonary complianceCompliance in the intensive care unit.