BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is a common surgical procedure. However, muscle contractions and general muscle tension may impair the surgical view and cause difficulties suturing the hernial defect. Deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) paralyses the abdominal wall muscles and may help to create better surgical conditions.

OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated if deep compared with no NMB improved the surgical view during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

DESIGN: Crossover study.

SETTING: The study was carried out at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and conducted from May 2015 until February 2017.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 34 patients were randomised in an investigator-initiated, assessor-blinded crossover design of deep vs. no NMB during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults scheduled for elective laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Known allergy to any study medication, known homozygous variants in the butyrylcholinesterase gene, severe renal disease, neuromuscular disease, lactating or pregnant women, any indication for rapid sequence induction.

INTERVENTIONS: Deep NMB was established with rocuronium and reversed with sugammadex. Anaesthesia was conducted with propofol and remifentanil.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was evaluation of surgical view assessed on a five-point rating scale. Other outcomes included the surgical conditions during laparoscopic suturing of the hernia defect.

RESULTS: We found no difference in ratings for the surgical view when comparing deep with no NMB: mean -0.1 (95% confidence interval -0.4 to 0.2) (P = 0.521, paired t test). However, deep compared with no NMB improved the rating score for surgical conditions while suturing the hernia defect (P = 0.012, Mann-Whitney U test). No differences were found in either total length of surgery (P = 0.76) or hernia suturing time (P = 0.81).

CONCLUSION: Deep compared with no NMB did not change the rating score of the surgical view immediately after introduction of trocars during laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, but the surgical condition were improved during suturing of the hernia.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02247466.