Why should I change my practice of anaesthesia: neuromuscular blocking agents.

BACKGROUND: Recently, four neuromuscular blocking agents have been introduced into clinical practice. The drug companies claim that these new drugs offer several important advantages. But is this true? Do the new neuromuscular blocking agents add anything to our clinical practice, and will their introduction really benefit our patients? Or will it only benefit the economy of the companies? PURPOSE OF THE LECTURE: In this lecture I shall try to update you on these new drugs and give you my personal bias on when to use the different (new and old) neuromuscular blocking agents.