Sugammadex uncovered: balancing clinical efficacy, safety and cost

Authors

Somchai Amornyotin

Published in

Thai Journal of Anesthesiology. Volume 52. Issue 4. Pages 213-224. Epub Aug 31, 2026.

Abstract

Sugammadex is a selective relaxant binding agent that has fundamentally changed the reversal of neuromuscular blockade produced by the aminosteroidal neuromuscular blocking agents rocuronium and vecuronium. Unlike acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, sugammadex acts by encapsulating free molecules of these neuromuscular blocking agents in plasma, thereby reducing their availability at the neuromuscular junction and promoting diffusion of the drug away from the effect site. This unique mechanism allows rapid, predictable, and effective reversal of shallow, moderate, and deep neuromuscular blockade. Sugammadex has important practical applications in routine anesthesia, rapidsequence induction, ambulatory surgery, patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, and situations in which rapid restoration of neuromuscular function is desirable. Its major advantages include faster recovery compared with neostigmine, reliable reversal of deep blockade, absence of muscarinic adverse effects requiring anticholinergic coadministration, and potentially improved operating room efficiency and postoperative recovery. However, sugammadex is not without limitations. Important concerns include its relatively high acquisition cost, risk of residual neuromuscular blockade when underdosed, hypersensitivity and anaphylaxis, marked bradycardia or cardiac arrest in rare cases, recurrence of blockade after administrationof aninsufficient dose, and interactions with hormonal contraceptives. Dosing should therefore be guided whenever possible by quantitative neuromuscular monitoring rather than by elapsed time or clinical signs alone. Cost-effectiveness remains context dependent. Although the drug is substantially more expensive than neostigmine on a per-dose basis, its economic value may improve when reductions in recovery time, operating room occupancy, postoperative respiratory complications, and unplanned escalation of care are considered.

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