Background: Sugammadex has been associated with increases in the bispectral index (BIS). We evaluated the effects of
sugammadex administration on quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) measures.
Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of adult male patients undergoing robot-assisted radical
prostatectomy. All patients received a sevoflurane-based general anaesthetic and a continuous infusion of rocuronium,
which was reversed with 2 mg kg1 of sugammadex i.v. BIS, EEG, and EMG measures were captured with the BIS Vista™
monitor.
Results: Twenty-five patients were included in this study. Compared with baseline, BIS increased at 4e6 min (b coefficient: 3.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.22e5.04; P<0.001), spectral edge frequency 95 (SEF95) increased at 2e4 min (b
coefficient: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.05e0.52; P¼0.016) and 4e6 min (b coefficient: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.47e0.94; P<0.001), and EMG
increased at 4e6 min (b coefficient: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.00e2.81; P<0.001) after sugammadex administration. Compared with
baseline, increased beta power was observed at 2e4 min (b coefficient: 93; 95% CI: 1e185; P¼0.046) and 4e6 min (b coefficient: 208; 95% CI: 116e300; P<0.001), and decreased delta power was observed at 4e6 min (b coefficient: 526.72; 95%
CI: 778 to 276; P<0.001) after sugammadex administration. Neither SEF95 nor frequency band data analysis adjusted
for EMG showed substantial differences. None of the patients showed clinical signs of awakening.
Conclusions: After neuromuscular block reversal with 2 mg kg1 sugammadex, BIS, SEF95, EMG, and beta power showed
small but statistically significant increases over time, while delta power decreased
