Residual non-depolarising neuromuscular block assessed by train-of-four stimulation in the dog.

A technique is described for assessing the extent of residual neuromuscular block following non-depolarising agents in the dog. The ulnar nerve was electrically stimulated with a train-of-four impulses and the muscle responses recorded. Heights of the control and, following the administration of the muscle relaxant, the first, second and fourth twitch tensions (T1, T2 and T4) of the train were measured. There was a highly significant linear correlation between the ratio T1/control, used to determine the extent of neuromuscular block, and the other ratios T2/T1 and T4/T1. Both of the ratios T2/T1 and T4/T1 avoid the use of control heights.