Christensson E, Ebberyd A, Cedborg AH, et al. - Given that risk for respiratory complications following major surgery is independently conferred by obstructive sleep apnoea and residual neuromuscular blockade, researchers looked for an influence of partial neuromuscular blockade on hypoxic ventilatory response (isocapnic hypoxia to oxygen saturation of 80%) and hypercapnic ventilatory response (normoxic inspired carbon dioxide 5%) in this physiological investigation including 10 unsedated men with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea. Attenuation by 32% in the hypoxic ventilatory response was evident during residual neuromuscular block (rocuronium to train-of-four ratio 0.7), however, no impact was seen on the hypercapnic ventilatory response. Specifically, depression of peripheral chemosensitivity was induced by neuromuscular blockade, though such an effect on respiratory muscle function was not seen as the hypercapnic ventilatory response was unchanged.