Hand grip force as an assessment of recovery from neuromuscular block.

A simple hydraulic hand dynamometer was used to assess the hand grip force before and after general anesthesia. Eight patients received a general anesthetic of nitrous oxide and oxygen and an inhalational agent without relexants (non-relaxant group). Ten patients received a similar anesthetic of nitrous oxide and oxygen and an inhalational agent with non-depolarizing relaxants (relaxant group). The patients in the nonrelaxant group showed a mild depression to 77% of initial hand grip force by the time they could hold up their heads for 5 seconds. Patients in the relaxant group had a mean of only 29% of initial hand grip force when they could lift their heads. One hour later, hand grip force increased to 76% of preoperative force in the relaxant group. Hand grip force appears to be a sensitive measurement of residual relaxant effect.