NMB

Medical abbreviation · Anesthesia

NMB
Stands forNeuromuscular blockade (blocker)
CategoriesMedical

NMB stands for Neuromuscular blockade (blocker), an anesthesia abbreviation.

Drug-induced paralysis of skeletal muscle used to facilitate intubation and surgery, or the drugs that produce it. Depolarizing agents (succinylcholine) and nondepolarizing agents (rocuronium, vecuronium, cisatracurium) act at the neuromuscular junction and have no effect on consciousness.

Example: Deep NMB maintained for the laparoscopy; reversed with sugammadex before extubation.

Usage notes

Because paralytics provide no sedation or pain relief, patients must be adequately anesthetized to prevent awareness. Residual blockade after surgery can cause airway obstruction and pneumonia, so quantitative monitoring is recommended. Sugammadex, approved in the US in 2015, reverses rocuronium and vecuronium by encapsulating them.

More anesthesia abbreviations

  • ISB – Interscalene brachial plexus block
  • LA – Local anesthesia (local anesthetic)
  • LAST – Local anesthetic systemic toxicity
  • LMA – Laryngeal mask airway
  • Mac – Macintosh
  • MH – Malignant hyperthermia
  • NORA – Non-operating room anesthesia
  • PDPH – Post-dural puncture headache
  • PNB – Peripheral nerve block
  • PONV – Postoperative nausea and vomiting
  • RCRI – Revised Cardiac Risk Index
  • SAB – Subarachnoid block (spinal anesthesia)

See all 34 anesthesia abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.