Abstract: Objective  To observe the neuromuscular blocking effects of rocuronium in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to non-PD patients. Methods  This study included 31 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)Ⅰ-Ⅲ PD patients (PD group) aged 18-65 years undergoing subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) surgery and 24 non-PD patients (non-PD group) undergoing facial nerve decompression. Anesthesia was induced with a bolus of rocuronium (0.6 mg/kg) intravenously, and neuromuscular block was monitored with  train-of-four (TOF). The duration of 90% recovery of TOF (DURTOF 90%), onset time, clinical duration, recovery index, and occurrence of severe respiratory complications within 2 hours after surgery were recorded. Results  Compared to the non-PD group, both DURTOF 90% and clinical duration were significantly prolonged in the PD group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the onset time of rocuronium between the two groups (P>0.05). In PD patients, the DURTOF 90% of rocuronium was positively correlated with the course of the disease, with a longer course associated with delayed DURTOF 90% (P<0.05). There were no severe respiratory complications in both groups after surgery. Conclusions The DURTOF 90%and clinical duration of rocuronium are significantly prolonged in patients with PD, and the DURTOF 90% is positively correlated with the course of the disease.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, rocuronium, neuromuscular blocking effects, general anesthesia