Profile of sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular blockade in the elderly: current perspectives

Abstract

The number of elderly patients is increasing worldwide. This will have a significant impact on the practice of anesthesia in future decades. Anesthesiologists must provide care for an increasing number of elderly patients, who have an elevated risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Complications related to postoperative residual neuromuscular blockade, such as muscle weakness, airway obstruction, hypoxemia, atelectasis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory failure, are more frequent in older than in younger patients. Therefore, neuromuscular blockade in the elderly should be carefully monitored and completely reversed before awakening patients at the end of anesthesia. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are traditionally used for reversal of neuromuscular blockade. Although the risk of residual neuromuscular blockade is reduced by reversal with neostigmine, it continues to complicate the postoperative course. Sugammadex represents an innovative approach to reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by aminosteroid neuromuscular-blocking agents, particularly rocuronium, with useful applications in clinical practice. However, aging is associated with certain changes in the pharmacokinetics of sugammadex, and to date there has been no thorough evaluation of the use of sugammadex in elderly patients. The aim of this review was to perform an analysis of the use of sugammadex in older adults based on the current literature. Major issues surrounding the physiologic and pharmacologic effects of aging in elderly patients and how these may impact the routine use of sugammadex in elderly patients are discussed.

Introduction

Between now and 2030, every country will experience population aging, a trend that is both pronounced and historically unprecedented. Over the past six decades, countries of the world experienced only a slight increase in the proportion of people aged ≥60 years: from 8% to 10%.¹ In the next four decades, this group is expected to rise to 22% of the total population, an increase from 800 million to 2 billion people.¹ This will have a major impact on the practice of anesthesia in future decades. Approximately 50% of elderly patients will require anesthesia for a surgical intervention, and thus the population of patients presenting for elective surgery will be sicker and at greater risk of perioperative complications.^2,3

Several factors may contribute to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality in elderly persons. Aging results in physiologic changes within all organ systems, with changes in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and renal systems being of particular importance to anesthesia. Furthermore, aging is accompanied by an increased risk of chronic disease, which may further limit organ function and accelerate the age-related decrease in reserve capacity of the affected organs.⁴ Drug disposition, metabolism, and excretion may be altered in elderly patients as a result of several factors, including changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, alterations in receptor sensitivity, and impairment of the body’s normal homeostatic mechanisms.² Knowledge of these age-related factors will allow anesthesiologists to maximize perioperative outcomes, while maintaining safety and efficiency.³

Incomplete recovery from neuromuscular blockade (NMB) after anesthesia and surgery continues to be a common problem in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Despite routine use of anticholinesterase reversal agents, 20%–40% of patients continue to arrive in the PACU with objective evidence of residual NMB.^5,6 Numerous clinical studies have documented that incomplete recovery from NMB is associated with a variety of adverse events in the early postoperative period, including muscle weakness, airway obstruction, hypoxemic episodes, postoperative respiratory complications (eg, atelectasis, pneumonia), and respiratory failure.^5,6 In a prospective, cohort-matched observational study, Murphy et al found that the incidence of postoperative residual NMB was 57.7% in elderly patients, but only 30% in younger patients (difference −27.7%, 99% CI −41.2% to −13.1%; P<0.001).⁷ Muscle weakness, airway obstruction, hypoxemic events, postoperative pulmonary complications, and increased PACU and hospital lengths of stay were observed more frequently in the elderly (P<0.01 for all).⁷ In a prospective cohort study of 599 adult patients who received NMB agents (NMBAs) during general anesthesia, Stewart et al found that adverse respiratory events in the PACU were more frequent in patients with residual NMB (P=0.033), which was significantly associated with age (adjusted relative risk 1.17, 95% CI 1.06–1.29 per 10-year increase).⁸ Therefore, the elderly have an increased risk of postoperative residual NMB and associated adverse outcomes compared with younger adults.^7,8

Altered pharmacokinetics of NMBAs in elderly patients lead to prolonged duration of action of these drugs and delayed recovery from NMB compared to younger subjects. Although this mainly applies to aminosteroid NMBAs, benzylisoquinoline NMBAs may also require dose adjustment to prevent residual NMB. Therefore, NMB in the elderly should be routinely monitored and completely reversed before awakening patients at the end of anesthesia.^9–12 Differences between young and elderly patients with respect to antagonism of NMB by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors have been reported. Young et al noted prolonged duration of action of neostigmine in aged patients (32±10 vs 11±2 minutes, P<0.05),¹³ confirming previous data (42±10 vs 13±14 minutes in older vs younger patients, P<0.01).¹⁴ These reflect changes observed with aging, such as a decrease in the initial volume of distribution in older compared to younger patients (0.1±0.4 vs 0.068±0.018 L/kg, P<0.05), which allows a greater concentration of neostigmine to be initially available to act at the NM junction.^13,14 However, this effect is balanced by the prolonged duration of action of NMBAs in the elderly, so the risk of residual NMB is not avoided in the elderly after administering acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Although reversal with neostigmine decreases the risk of residual NMB, it continues to complicate the postoperative course, depending on the patient’s age.^7,8

Sugammadex represents an innovative approach to reversal of NMB induced by aminosteroid NMBAs, particularly rocuronium, with important implications for clinical practice.^15,16 In a recent meta-analysis, Carron et al found that compared to neostigmine, sugammadex was associated with faster reversal of NMB (P<0.0001) and lower risk of postoperative residual NMB after extubation (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01–0.43; P=0.0068).¹⁵ Furthermore, compared to neostigmine, sugammadex was associated with significantly lower likelihood of global (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.34–0.66; P<0.0001), respiratory (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.95; P=0.0386), and cardiovascular (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08–0.61; P=0.0036) adverse events, as well as postoperative weakness (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.97; P=0.0409).¹⁵ Together, these benefits produce faster discharge of patients to the surgical ward after general anesthesia with sugammadex compared to neostigmine.¹⁶

The aforementioned evidence is derived from studies that have often excluded elderly patients. To date, there has been no thorough evaluation of the use of sugammadex in elderly patients. The aim of this review is to analyze the use of sugammadex in this older population based on the existing literature.

Physiologic and pharmacologic effects of aging

The aging process results in progressive functional decline in all major organ systems. Until 60 years of age, both basal organ function and physiologic reserve (difference between basal and maximal organ function) are well maintained. Physiologic reserve subsequently diminishes, with a large difference in the rate of age-related decline.¹⁷ Age-related physiologic changes may affect both the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs commonly used for general anesthesia (Table 1).

Table 1.

Main age-related physiologic changes in the elderly and implications for anesthetic management

Body component	Changes	Anesthetic implications
Nervous system	↓ White and gray matter in the brain (atrophy)	↑ Sensitivity to anesthetic drugs (eg, propofol, benzodiazepines, inhalational agents, ketamine, opioids)
	↓ Cerebral blood flow	↓ Delivery and longer onset of clinical effects of anesthetic agents
Respiratory system	↓ Lung function	↑ Onset time of inhalational agents
	↓ Respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia	↑ Sensitivity to anesthetic drugs (eg, opioids, benzodiazepines)
	↓ Respiratory muscle strength	↑ Sensitivity to NMBAs
Cardiovascular system	↓ Cardiac output	↑ Onset time of anesthetic drugs (eg, propofol, inhalational agents, NMBAs, sugammadex)
Liver	↓ Liver function	↓ Clearance of anesthetic drugs eliminated by the liver (eg, aminosteroid NMBAs)
	↓ Hepatic blood flow
	↓ Phase 1 metabolism (eg, oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis)
Kidney	↓ Renal function	↓ Clearance of anesthetic drugs eliminated by the kidney (eg, NMBAs, sugammadex)
	↓ Glomerular filtration rate
	↓ Renal blood flow
Muscle	↓ Muscle mass (atrophy)	↓ Delivery of anesthetic drugs (eg, NMBAs, sugammadex)
	↓ Muscle blood flow
Plasma proteins	↓ Protein binding (eg, albumin)	↑ Potency of anesthetic drugs (eg, propofol)
	↓ Activity (eg, plasma cholinesterases)	↑ Duration for anesthetic drugs (eg, succinylcholine, benzylisoquinoline NMBAs)
Body composition	↓ Total body water	↑ Potency of anesthetic drugs (eg, propofol, benzodiazepines, opioids)
	↓ Lean body mass	↑ Duration for lipophilic anesthetic drugs (eg, benzodiazepines, inhaled anesthetics)
	↑ Body fat

Note: Data from these studies.⁹,¹²,¹⁷–³⁴

Abbreviation: NMBAs, neuromuscular blocking agents.

Cerebral effects of aging

Brain atrophy occurs with increasing age. Evaluating 201 healthy adults aged ≥55 years over 6 years, Enzinger et al found that the mean annual brain-volume change was −0.4%±0.29% (range −1.47 to 0.32%, women −0.39%±0.26% vs men −0.41%±0.31%; P=0.76).¹⁸ Furthermore, increased age was correlated with an accelerated rate of brain atrophy: annual brain-volume change in subjects aged 65–75 years was twice as high as that of subjects aged 50–54 years (−0.55%±0.29% vs −0.28%±0.23%, P<0.0001). While cerebral atrophy increases, cerebral perfusion decreases after 60 years of age. Using the ¹⁵O steady-state inhalation method and positron-emission tomography in a group of 34 healthy volunteers aged 22–82 years, Leenders et al found that regional cerebral blood flow, oxygen utilization, and blood volume in “pure” gray- and white-matter regions decreased with increasing age by ~0.5% per year.¹⁹ These changes lead to a decrease in the rate of delivery of most anesthetic agents to the nervous system, slower brain uptake, slower blood–brain equilibration, and slower onset of clinical effects.^9,20

Respiratory effects of aging

Age-related deterioration of pulmonary function does not produce significant symptoms in unstressed individuals.¹⁷ The main changes in the respiratory system with aging include decreased lung elasticity, chest-wall compliance, vital capacity, alveolar surface area, and diffusion capacity, as well as increased residual volume, dead space, and ventilation–perfusion mismatch.^9,17,21 Respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are markedly diminished in older patients.^17,20,21 Respiratory muscle strength consistently declines with age, further increasing the work of breathing.¹⁷ All of these changes increase the risk of gas-exchange abnormalities in the perioperative period and enhance sensitivity to the respiratory-depressant effects of anesthetics and opioid analgesics. Muscle weakness poses additional risks of the development of postoperative respiratory complications in elderly patients in the setting of incomplete recovery from NMB.^9,17,20,21

Cardiovascular effects of aging

Aging also produces alterations in cardiovascular physiology, and older patients have an inevitable and progressive loss of functional reserve.^9,17,20,22 Myocardial stiffness and increased arterial stiffness are the main cardiovascular changes. They lead to increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and prolonged relaxation of the left ventricle in diastole. Myocardial work increases. Fibrosis of the cardiac skeleton, associated with calcification at the base of the aortic valve, is also present in older adults.^9,17,20,22 Cardiac output at rest is decreased in older individuals, and maximal heart rate also decreases with aging. In healthy, older individuals, increases in cardiac output are primarily accomplished by increasing end-diastolic volume and by increasing stroke volume at a similar ejection fraction.¹⁷ Intrinsic function of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems decreases, and reactivity of baroreceptors and chemoreceptors also decreases with aging, leading to a reduced response to postural changes and hypotension, as well as an increase in circulating catecholamines.^9,17,20,22 These changes set the stage for isolated systolic hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, atrioventricular conduction defects, and aortic-valve calcification, all diseases found in the elderly. Together, age-related cardiovascular changes lead to decreased cardiovascular capacity in the elderly, explaining the increased cardiodepressant effects of many anesthetic drugs and the risk of rhythm changes or dysrhythmias after reversal of NMB with neostigmine, often given in association with muscarinic receptor-antagonist drugs, such as atropine or glycopyrrolate.^9,17,20,22

Renal effects of aging

Renal function decreases with age. This is caused by loss of renal parenchyma (~10% per decade of increasing age),²³ decreased renal blood flow (10% decline per decade),²⁴ and decreased glomerular filtration rate (0.4–1.02 mL/min per year), all of which contribute to a 30%–50% decrease in creatinine clearance between the ages of 20 and 90 years.²⁵ Despite this decline in renal function, serum creatinine levels remain within the normal range, because of reduced production of creatinine, a product of muscle catabolism. Loss of muscle mass occurs at a rate similar to the rate of decrease in glomerular filtration rate.^17,20 As a consequence, drugs (or metabolites), also including anesthetics and muscle relaxants, that are primarily eliminated via the renal system have longer half-lives and reach higher peak levels, possibly leading to toxicity.^9,17

Hepatic effects of aging

Liver mass decreases by 20%–40% during the typical human life span,²⁶ with a concomitant decline in hepatic blood flow of 10% per decade²⁷ and a moderate decline in phase I metabolism of certain drugs.²⁶ Phase I reactions largely depend on the action of cytochrome P450 enzymes, which modify drugs by oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis to form metabolites.^9,17,26 Phase II reactions are involved in the subsequent elimination of these metabolites by attaching small polar endogenous molecules (acetyl, methyl, sulfur, or glucuronide groups) to form water-soluble compounds. This process, called conjugation, is mediated by a number of enzymes,^9,17,26 and is generally not affected by age.⁹ Anesthesiologists should thus be aware of possible age-related effects on phase I reactions, leading to reduced metabolism of agents eliminated by the hepatic system (eg, aminosteroid NMBAs).^9,17

Muscle effects of aging

Loss of skeletal muscle strength is a commonly recognized consequence of aging. Average reported age-related decreases in strength are 20%–40% for both men and women in both proximal and distal muscles.^28,29 Longitudinal studies, with some exceptions, have reported somewhat-greater losses of strength over time (1%–3% per year) compared with cross-sectional studies.^28,29 Although age-associated decreases in strength per unit muscle mass (ie, muscle quality) may play a role, the majority of strength loss can be accounted for by decreased muscle mass of ~40% between the ages of 20 and 60 years²⁹ and nearly 50% between the ages of 20 and 90 years.³⁰ Age-related loss of muscle mass appears to be fairly consistent, occurring at a rate of approximately 1%–2% per year after 50 years of age.³⁰ This loss is attributed to a decrease in both the number and size of skeletal muscle fibers.^29,30

Aging is also associated with decreased muscle blood flow and vascular conductance in the elderly.^12,31 Vascular function changes with aging include impaired endothelial function (eg, impaired formation and activation of nitric oxide) and altered reactivity of vascular smooth muscle to sympathetic activity. Age-related structural and functional alterations in the vascular system may explain age-associated reductions in muscle blood flow.³¹ These changes may influence the delivery of drugs to the muscle end plate and thereby contribute to delayed onset and longer duration of action of most NMBAs, as well as a greater risk of residual NMB, in the elderly.³¹

Pharmacology in the elderly

Pharmacodynamic effects of aging

The effect of age on drug sensitivity varies with the drug studied and the response measured. Advancing age is associated with increased sensitivity to the central nervous system effects of benzodiazepines; propofol, which requires a 40%–50% lower dose in patients aged >65 years; inhalational anesthetic agents; opioids, especially remifentanil; and local anesthetics.^17,32 In the field of NM pharmacology, possible changes in receptor biological features (eg, ligand affinity and kinetics), perhaps occurring simultaneously with altered blood flow to muscles,^12,17 has been suggested to occur in elderly patients.^33,34 These changes involve slower release of NMBAs from receptors, delayed recovery of receptors, and possibly altered receptor expression at the NM junction.^33,34

Pharmacokinetic effects of aging

Distribution

In general, the volume of distribution of a drug and the plasma concentration produced by a given dose are inversely related. With increasing age, lean body mass and total body water decrease; therefore, hydrophilic drugs have a smaller volume of distribution and thus higher plasma concentration compared with those of younger individuals. Consequently, the effects of hydrophilic drugs will increase. Conversely, elderly patients tend to have a higher percentage of body fat. As a result, lipophilic drugs will have a higher volume of distribution in the elderly, which may lead to more extensive redistribution and a longer elimination half-life of lipophilic drugs.^9,12

The volume of distribution of a drug is also influenced by such factors as protein binding (only unbound drug can be distributed), pH, molecular size, and solubility. Most anesthetic drugs bind to plasma proteins, primarily albumin. Therefore, the free fraction and overall free drug concentration are inversely related to albumin concentration. Increasing the percentage of unbound drug increases the amount of drug available to produce an effect. Plasma albumin concentration tends to decrease with age, and structural protein changes occur with age that lead to decreased efficiency of albumin binding, to as little as 20% by the age of 70 years.^9,12

Metabolism and excretion

The aging process affects drug metabolism in three main ways. First, reduced hepatic blood flow delivers the drug to the liver at a slower rate. Second, decreased liver mass reduces overall hepatic function. Finally, the liver’s intrinsic metabolic activity is decreased.^9,12,17 The elimination of many drugs from the body occurs primarily via renal excretion. The half-life of these drugs increases as renal function decreases.^9,12,17

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of sugammadex

Sugammadex (previously Org 25969) is a modified γ-cyclodextrin with a circular structure containing eight adjoining glucose molecules. The diameters of the inner and outer rims of unmodified γ-cyclodextrin are approximately 0.75 and 0.85 nm, respectively. Modifications to the parent molecule involve adding side chains to extend the cavity to ~1.1 nm and adding negatively charged groups at the end of the side chains to enhance binding. Therefore, the drug is modified to better accommodate the four hydrophobic steroidal rings of rocuronium (or vecuronium) and to enhance electrostatic binding to the positively-charged quaternary nitrogen of rocuronium (or vecuronium).^35,36

After injection, sugammadex encapsulates and inactivates unbound rocuronium (or vecuronium) by forming tight (K_a 1.05×10⁷ mol/L; K_d ~0.1 mmol/L) water-soluble complexes at a 1:1 ratio. In so doing, sugammadex creates a concentration gradient favoring movement of rocuronium (or vecuronium) from the NM junction into the plasma, which quickly reverses rocuronium- (or vecuronium)-induced NMB.^35,36

In healthy adult volunteers, renal excretion of unchanged drug has been observed as the primary route of elimination for sugammadex (Table 2). The majority (>90%) of a dose of sugammadex is excreted within 24 hours of administration. Sugammadex is primarily (96%) excreted in the urine, predominantly (≥95%) as unchanged drug; excretion in the feces or expired air is minimal (0.02%).^35–37 Sugammadex also increases the amount of rocuronium excreted unchanged in the urine.^35–37 Administration of rocuronium and sugammadex 2 or 4 mg/kg (doses recommended for reversal of moderate or deep rocuronium-induced NMB in clinical practice, respectively) was associated with a two- to threefold increase in urinary excretion of unchanged rocuronium in the first 24 hours compared with rocuronium plus placebo in healthy volunteers (32% or 44% vs 14% of the administered dose).³⁶ The effect of sugammadex on urinary excretion of rocuronium appears to be dose dependent.³⁶

Table 2.

Pharmacokinetic characteristics, chemical properties, and physical properties of rocuronium and sugammadex

Pharmacological aspects	Parameters	Rocuroniuma	Sugammadexb
Pharmacokinetic	Volume of distribution (steady state)	14 (13.5–15) Lc	11–14 L
	Metabolism location	Liver	None
	Metabolites	17-Desacetyl-rocuronium 16N-desallyl-rocuronium	None
	Elimination route	Biliary and renal	Renal
	Elimination half-life	1.2 (1.1–1.3) hours	1.8 (1–4) hours
	Plasma clearance	259 (245–273) mL/mind	88 (75–138) mL/min
	Protein binding	30%	0%
Chemical and physical	Molecular weight	609.7 g/mol	2,178 g/mol
	Water solubility	0.14 mg/L	31,470 mg/L
	Octanol–water partition coefficient	0.5 at 20°C	−12 at 25°C
	Log S§	−6.63	−1.84
	Log P‡	1.66	0.85

Notes:

^a,bData obtained from summaries of product characteristics³⁷,⁷⁵; and personal communication from Merck & Co., Inc., Medical Division (November 2011 to August 2017).

^c,dVolume of distribution (0.203 [0.193–0.214] L/kg)^c and plasma clearance (3.7 [3.5–3.9] mL⋅kg/min)^d calculated for an adult weighing 70 kg.

^§Logarithm (base 10) of water solubility (S) obtained with ALOGPS program. Hydrophilicity increases as the value of log S increases.

^‡Logarithm (base 10) of the octanol–water partition coefficient (P), defined as the ratio of the compound’s octanol phase:aqueous phase concentrations obtained with ALOGPS 2. It is a measure of molecular hydrophobicity. Hydrophobicity increases as the value of log P≥0 increases.

Physiologic and pharmacologic effects of aging on sugammadex

Efficacy and safety

Some case reports and few clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of sugammadex in elderly patients^38–49 (Table 3). McDonagh et al conducted a parallel-group, comparative, open-label study evaluating sugammadex 2 mg/kg administered for reversal of moderate rocuronium-induced NMB in 150 patients undergoing intravenous or inhalational general anesthesia. They compared 48 younger adults (aged 18–64 years), 62 elderly adults (aged 65–74 years), and 40 old-elderly adults (aged ≥75 years).⁴⁵ The geometric mean time (95% CI) from sugammadex administration to recovery of train-of-four (TOF) ratio to 0.9 increased with age: from 2.3 (2–2.6) minutes for younger adults to 2.6 (2.3–2.9) minutes for elderly adults and 3.6 (3.1–4.1) minutes for old/elderly adults.⁴⁵ Recovery of TOF ratio to 0.9 was estimated to be 0.7 minutes faster (P=0.022) in younger adults compared with patients aged ≥65 years (younger adult vs elderly and old/elderly groups combined: 2.3 [2–2.6] minutes vs 2.9 [2.7–3.2] minutes). Sugammadex was well tolerated, and no episodes of recurarization occurred.⁴⁵ Similarly, in a study of 17 patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy with propofol anesthesia, Kadoi et al found a significant difference in time to recovery to a TOF of 0.9 between eight young patients (aged ≤50 years) and nine elderly patients (aged ≥70 years) (403±37 seconds vs 443±36 seconds, P<0.05) after 8 mg/kg sugammadex in the presence of moderate rocuronium-induced NMB.⁴⁸

Table 3.

Clinical trials evaluating reversal by sugammadex in elderly patients

Study	Type	Anesthesia	Older					Younger
			Subjects (n)	Age (years)	NMB level (sugammadex dose)	Reversal time (minutes)		Subjects (n)	Age (years)	NMB level (sugammadex dose)	Reversal time (minutes)		PORC
Ariño et al42	CT	Sevoflurane Fentanyl	25	≥70	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	3.22 (1.05)	–	–	–	–	–	NR
Yoshida et al43	CT	Sevoflurane Remifentanil	50	≥65	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD), range	2.89 (0.91), 1–5	–	–	–	–	–	NR
Yazar et al44	CT	Sevoflurane Nitrous oxide Fentanyl	30	≥65	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (range)	3.27 (1.41–5.37)	–	–	–	–	–	NR
Yazar et al44	CT	Sevoflurane Nitrous oxide Fentanyl	29	≥75	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (range)	5.5 (2.47–9.54)	–	–	–	–	–	NR
McDonagh et al45	CT	Various	62	65–74	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD), range	2.9 (1.6), 0.9–8.8	48	18–64	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD), range	2.5 (1.4), 1.2–7.4	NR
McDonagh et al45	CT	Various	40	≥75	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD), range	3.9 (1.7), 1–9.9	48	18–64	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD), range	2.5 (1.4), 1.2–7.4	NR
Suzuki et al46	CT	Sevoflurane Remifentanil	15	≥70	PTC 1–2 (4 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	3.6 (0.7)	15	32–46	PTC 1–2 (4 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	1.3 (0.3)	NR
Vasileiou et al47	CT	Desflurane Fentanyl	20	≥70	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	1.69 (0.18)	20	<70	T2 (2 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	1.42 (0.12)	NR
Kadoi et al48	CT	Propofol	9	≥70	T1 (8 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	7.38 (0.5)	8	30–46	T1 (8 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	6.72 (0.61)	NR
Yamamoto et al49	RCT	Sevoflurane Remifentanil	19	≥70	PTC 1–2 (4 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	2.96 (0.71)	20	20–60	T1 (4 mg/kg)	Mean (SD)	2.0 (0.16)	NR

Notes: Studies evaluating sugammadex for reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB in the elderly and compared to younger, when possible, were considered using methodology described elsewhere.¹⁵ The authors searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library electronic databases, limiting the search to articles published from January 1, 2005 to July 31, 2017. Using the “AND” function, the “sugammadex” term was first used alone and then combined with the Medical Subject Headings terms “aged” and “aging”. Two authors (GI and FB) independently screened the titles and abstracts of articles retrieved by the search strategies. Data were extracted independently by two authors (GI and FB).

Abbreviations: NMB, neuromuscular blockade; CT, clinical trial; RCT, randomized CT; T_1–4, twitches at train-of-four monitoring; PTC, posttetanic count; PORC, postoperative residual curarization; NR, not reported.

More recently, in a prospective clinical trial, Yazar et al investigated the effect of sugammadex 2 mg/kg on duration of recovery from moderate rocuronium-induced NMB in elderly patients undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia.⁴⁴ They found that the median (range) time from T₂ to TOF ratio of 0.9 with sugammadex was 3.27 (1.41–5.37) minutes in younger elderly adults (aged 65–74 years) and 5.5 (2.47–9.54) minutes in older elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) (P<0.001).⁴⁴

In a comparative, open-label study, Suzuki et al evaluated 4 mg/kg sugammadex, administered for reversal of deep rocuronium-induced NMB, in a group of elderly patients (aged ≥70 years) versus younger patients (aged 20–50 years) undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia.⁴⁶ Recovery of TOF ratio to 0.9 was significantly slower in the older group than in the younger group (mean [SD] 3.6 [0.7] vs 1.3 [0.3] minutes, P<0.0001). There were no clinical events attributable to recurarization.⁴⁶ Similarly, Yamamoto et al found that time to a TOF ratio of 1 after sugammadex 4 mg/kg was significantly longer in patients aged ≥70 years than in patients aged 20–60 years (mean SD 177.6 [42.8] vs 119.9 [9.4] seconds, P<0.0001).⁴⁹

The findings of all these studies reflect the role of age-related physiologic changes, particularly at muscles and NM junctions (eg, decreased muscle blood flow), as well as age-related effects on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of NMBAs, in slowing the reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB by sugammadex in elderly patients.^{44–46,48,49} To better comprehend the magnitude of the delay in reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB by sugammadex in elderly compared with younger subjects, we performed a meta-analysis of English-language controlled trials investigating this aspect (Table 3). The meta-analysis of selected studies found a significant (P=0.0036) mean difference (95% CI) of 1.37 (0.45–2.3) minutes between elderly and younger subjects in reversal time of rocuronium-induced NMB by sugammadex, a delay in the elderly that should be considered in clinical practice (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Forest plot of meta-analysis of data from controlled studies of sugammadex for reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB in elderly compared with younger subjects.

Notes: Inclusion and exclusion criteria, search strategy, and methodology described elsewhere¹⁵ and in Table 3. To analyze reversal times (expressed in minutes), means and SDs were compared by mean difference (MD) and 95% CI for continuous-outcome data.¹⁵ Meta-analysis was performed using both random- and fixed-effect models. The random-effect model was computed with inverse-variance weighting using the DerSimonian–Laird method to account for heterogeneity. Heterogeneity across studies was tested using the I² statistic.¹⁵ I²>50% was considered substantial.¹⁵ Experimental, sugammadex at 2⁴⁵ or 4 mg/kg⁴⁶,⁴⁹ administered for reversal of moderate or deep rocuronium-induced NMB, respectively, in the elderly; controls, sugammadex at 2 or 4 mg/kg administered for reversal of moderate or deep rocuronium-induced NMB, respectively, in younger subjects. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant MD (95% CI) of 1.37 (0.45–2.3) (P=0.0036) in reversal time of rocuronium-induced NMB by sugammadex, delayed in elderly compared with younger subjects.

Abbreviation: NMB, neuromuscular blockade.

Age-related decreases in total body water and lean body mass, with a smaller apparent volume of distribution for sugammadex, may predispose the elderly to increased plasma concentrations of the drug after intravenous administration. However, this does not appear to reduce the safety of sugammadex, which is generally well tolerated in patients also at higher doses.⁵⁰ In a randomized multicenter, safety assessor-blinded, parallel-group, active-control Phase III trial investigating the reversal of profound NMB by 16 mg/kg sugammadex administered 3 minutes after 1.2 mg/kg rocuronium, Lee et al found no recurrence of NMB or serious adverse events related to study treatment.⁵¹ Moreover, in a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled, single-center study investigating 32, 64, and 96 mg/kg doses of sugammadex in 13 healthy adults, Peeters et al found that sugammadex was well tolerated in 12 of 13 subjects. When present, adverse events were generally mild, of limited duration, and more frequent at higher doses. The most common adverse event was dysgeusia, and there were no serious adverse events. One subject was withdrawn from the study after experiencing several adverse events following exposure to sugammadex, attributed to probable hypersensitivity to the drug.⁵²

Sugammadex-induced hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported with an incidence below 1%,^53,54 and as with all drugs, they are of concern, considering that elderly patients are particularly vulnerable to adverse drug reactions.⁵⁵ However, no sugammadex-induced hypersensitivity reactions were reported in the studies evaluating its efficacy and safety in elderly patients.^42–49 Among 15 cases of hypersensitivity following sugammadex administration revised by Tsur and Kalansky, only one patient was aged >65 years.⁵⁶ Miyazaki et al retrospectively investigated the incidence of potential sugammadex-induced anaphylaxis at a single center in Japan over a period of 3 years. The total number of patients who received sugammadex during the study period was 15,479, and the incidence of anaphylaxis associated with sugammadex was 0.039% (95% CI 0.014%–0.084%). None of the six patients involved were aged >65 years.⁵⁴ Therefore, drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions are possible, particularly during the critical 5-minute period immediately following sugammadex administration,⁵⁶ but the risk of anaphylaxis associated with sugammadex seems to be a rare event in the elderly.^{42–49,54,56}

Influence of differential muscle sensitivity to NMBAs and anesthetic agents

Other factors have been investigated in an effort to explain the delayed reversal time with aging, such as differential sensitivity of various muscles to NMBAs and the potential role of general anesthetic drugs. Among the typical NM-monitoring sites used during clinical anesthesia, the orbicularis oculi and adductor pollicis muscles are described as being sensitive to NMBAs. Maximum blockade is more profound, and the duration of action is longer at these muscles than at the more resistant muscles, such as the corrugator supercilii, laryngeal adductors, and diaphragm.^57–60 Sugammadex, administered to reverse a rocuronium-induced NMB, showed different reversal profiles in muscles with different sensitivities to NMBAs.⁴⁹ Yamamoto et al found that reversal time observed at the adductor pollicis was significantly longer in patients aged ≥70 years than in patients aged 20–60 years (P<0.0001), but there was no difference according to age at the corrugator supercilii.⁴⁹ The explanation for the latter finding is unclear, but may reflect preservation of functional muscle activity, blood flow, or both at the corrugator supercilii with advanced age.⁴⁹

Propofol and inhalational anesthetics, such as sevoflurane or desflurane, are widely used for maintenance of anesthesia. In contrast to propofol, inhalational anesthetics enhance the effects of certain NMBAs, including rocuronium. They increase the intensity of NMB,⁶¹ and in some cases prolong the duration of action of rocuronium and time to recovery.^61,62 However, sugammadex has been shown to be equally effective for reversing moderate and deep rocuronium-induced NMB during sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia.^63,64 This suggests that sevoflurane does not pharmacodynamically inhibit chemical binding between rocuronium and sugammadex.^64,65 Nevertheless, Dwyer and Howe showed that perfusion of forearm muscle and skin is maintained in patients aged 18–34 years, but not in patients aged 60–79 years, during anesthesia when receiving isoflurane at 0.8%–1.2% combined with nitrous oxide at 66%.⁶⁶ This suggests that inhalational anesthesia may have some influence on slowing the recovery from NMB by sugammadex through further reducing cardiac output and muscle blood flow, both of which are already decreased with age. Changes in blood flow to peripheral tissues produced by volatile anesthetics may thereby contribute to age-related variations in recovery from rocuronium-induced NMB with sugammadex.⁴⁶

Dose considerations

Based on the aforementioned findings and the physiologic changes that occur with aging, older patients may be expected to require a higher dose of sugammadex to achieve adequate recovery from NMB within a short time.⁶⁷ In a study comparing 22 young (aged 20–40 years) and 22 elderly (aged ≥70 years) adults administered 4 mg/kg sugammadex to revert deep rocuronium-induced NMB (one to two posttetanic counts), Shin et al reported that the ED₉₅ (95% CI) of sugammadex for adequate recovery within 2 minutes was 5.4 (4.9–5.5) mg/kg in elderly adults and 4.4 (3.9–4.5) mg/kg in young adults.⁶⁷ Dose adjustments of sugammadex should thus be considered when rapid recovery from deep NMB is required in elderly adults.⁶⁷

Respiratory and cardiovascular dysfunction

Aging affects respiratory and cardiovascular system and the elderly may present respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. However, there are no limitations on the use of sugammadex in the presence of age-related respiratory and/or cardiovascular dysfunction. In a randomized, multicenter, parallel-group, comparative, safety assessor-blinded study involving 77 patients with pulmonary disease, sugammadex was shown to be safe and effective for the reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB.⁶⁸ Compared to neostigmine, sugammadex has been associated with significantly less risk of postoperative desaturation (RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06–0.83) and need for transitory oxygen supplementation (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.66) and (not significant) less risk of laryngospasm (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.07–1.65) and increased upper-airway secretion (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.09–1.59).⁶⁹ Compared to neostigmine, sugammadex has been associated with a not significant greater risk of cough (RR 1.42, 95% CI 0.42–4.81).⁶⁹ Restoration of cough and swallowing reflexes is key to preventing pulmonary aspiration after anesthesia in the elderly.⁷⁰ However, it is possible that the straining that occurs during coughing can be responsible for provoking reflux events and pulmonary aspiration.⁷¹ Awareness on this aspect is then important.^70,71

In a randomized, safety assessor-blinded, placebo- controlled trial, Dahl et al found that sugammadex can be given safely and effectively for reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB in patients with cardiovascular disease undergoing noncardiac surgery.⁷² Kizilay et al suggested that sugammadex might be preferable, as it provides more hemodynamic stability compared to neostigmine-atropine combination in cardiac patients (aged 18–75 years) undergoing noncardiac surgery.⁷³ A significantly lower risk of bradycardia (RR 0.16, 95% CI 0.07–0.34) and (not significant) lower risk of tachycardia (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.09–2.22) and supraventricular extrasystoles (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.03–3.05) has been reported.⁶⁹ Furthermore, sugammadex alone or in combination with rocuronium or vecuronium is not associated with QTc prolongation.⁷⁴

Liver and kidney dysfunction

Unlike aminosteroid NMBAs,^12,75 sugammadex is not metabolized by the liver, and age-related changes in liver function should not affect the drug’s pharmacokinetic profile.³⁷ By contrast, as sugammadex is primarily excreted in an unchanged form via urine within 24 hours at usual clinical doses (Table 2),³⁷ its potential role in kidney function may be suspected, and alteration of the drug’s pharmacokinetic profile may be expected with changes in kidney function.^76–78

On the first aspect, considering that both acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (~50%) and sugammadex (≥95%) are excreted unchanged by the kidneys, Isik et al investigated the effects of neostigmine (25 patients) and sugammadex (25 patients) on kidney function by means of sensitive biomarkers (eg, cystatin C) after a surgical procedure under desflurane/opioid anesthesia. They found that both drugs may affect kidney function, but sugammadex had more tolerable effects than neostigmine.⁷⁶

Age-associated loss of kidney function may affect the elimination of sugammadex. In patients with a creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, sugammadex clearance is reduced by 17-fold and elimination half-life by 15-fold compared with patients without renal impairment.⁷⁷ In a Phase III trial, Staals et al reported pharmacokinetic data obtained from 26 patients who received rocuronium at 0.6 mg/kg followed by a single dose of sugammadex at 2.0 mg/kg at reappearance of two twitches during TOF monitoring. Mean total plasma clearance of sugammadex was 5.5 mL/min in patients with impaired renal function (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) and 95.2 mL/min in normal controls (P<0.05). Rocuronium clearance was also reduced: 41.8 mL/min in patients with renal impairment and 167 mL/min in controls (P<0.05). Median percentages of administered sugammadex and rocuronium excreted in the urine over 72 hours were 29% and 4%, respectively, in patients with renal impairment, in contrast to 73% and 42%, respectively, over 24 hours in controls.⁷⁸

By contrast, the efficacy of sugammadex is not altered by impaired renal function. After administration of 2 mg/kg sugammadex to reverse moderate rocuronium-induced NMB, the mean (SD) time to recovery of TOF ratio to 0.9 was 2 (0.72) minutes in 15 patients with impaired renal function and 1.65 (0.63) minutes in 15 normal controls (P>0.05). Furthermore, no block recurrence was observed.⁷⁵ Recently, Min et al published their results of an open-label, two-part, Phase I study of 18 adults with moderate (creatinine clearance 30–50 mL/min) or severe (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) renal impairment and healthy controls.⁷⁹ After 4 mg/kg sugammadex, pharmacokinetic data showed that the mean sugammadex exposure (area under the plasma concentration vs time curve) in subjects with moderate and severe renal impairment was 2.42 and 5.42 times, respectively, that of healthy controls. Clearance decreased and apparent terminal half-life was prolonged with increasing renal dysfunction. There were no serious adverse events or episodes of recurarization. Therefore, dose adjustment of sugammadex is not required in patients with moderate renal impairment.⁶⁶ However, current evidence evaluating safety is insufficient to support the use of sugammadex in patients with a creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min.^77–79

Conclusion

In conclusion, aging is associated with certain changes in the pharmacokinetics of sugammadex when used in elderly patients. In patients aged >65 years, time to recovery from rocuronium-induced NMB after sugammadex administration is prolonged on average by 1–2 minutes compared to younger patients. However, this delayed reversal of rocuronium-induced NMB is not associated with reduced efficacy of the drug or an increased risk of adverse effects in the elderly. Therefore, special dose recommendations have not been issued for older patients. However, if it is necessary to achieve adequate recovery of rocuronium-induced NMB in a short period, then a greater dose of sugammadex may be considered.