Survey of attitudes towards a randomised trial about sugammadex, neostigmine and pulmonary complications.

A recent retrospective observational study found that reversing neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex was associated with fewer postoperative pulmonary complications than reversing with neostigmine.[1] However, this is only an association, and causation has not been confirmed with a randomised controlled trial.[2] We are proposing a large pragmatic trial across Australia and New Zealand - the SNaPP study - to answer the question: compared to neostigmine, does reversing neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex reduce the incidence of new pulmonary complications? Eighty-nine percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that postoperative pulmonary complications are important, and 62% agreed or strongly agreed that a trial comparing the effects of sugammadex and neostigmine on postoperative pulmonary complication is worthwhile (19% were neutral and 18% disagreed or strongly disagreed). [Extracted from the article]