Muscle relaxation is part of a ''balanced anaesthetic technique''. Most anaesthetic agents produce a mild-moderate amount of muscle relaxation and often this is not sufficient. Increased muscle relaxation can be produced by increasing anaesthetic depth, the use of local anaesthetic techniques, or the use of centrally or peripherally acting muscle relaxants. However, it is important to realise that muscle relaxants have no anaesthetic or analgesic effect themselves and so should never be used alone. | Muscle relaxation is part of a ''balanced anaesthetic technique''. Most anaesthetic agents produce a mild-moderate amount of muscle relaxation and often this is not sufficient. Increased muscle relaxation can be produced by increasing anaesthetic depth, the use of local anaesthetic techniques, or the use of centrally or peripherally acting muscle relaxants. However, it is important to realise that muscle relaxants have no anaesthetic or analgesic effect themselves and so should never be used alone. |