TwitchView utilizes clinically-validated electromyography (EMG) to quantitatively monitor the patient's level of neuromuscular blockade. EMG measures the evoked action potential or the electrical response of the muscle. Unlike other quantitative monitoring modalities, EMG does not require motion and can be utilized when the patient's arms are tucked.
Tip: Monitor performance is dependent on proper placement of the electrode. For tips on electrode placement, watch the brief instructional video below.
Hand Placement:
Foot Placement:
Hand Placement:
Foot Placement:
Hand Placement:
Foot Placement:
Tip: After connecting the electrode to the patient cable, place a 4x4 under the connection and tape in place. For longer cases with tucked arms, reinforce the electrode with tape or coban to mitigate accidental electrode removal.
Train-of-Four (TOF) The measured response to four stimulation pulses
TOF Ratio (TOFR)
The degree of fade or comparison of the 4th to the 1st twitch, when 4 twitches are present; T4/T1
TOF Count (TOFC)
The number of responses elicited, 0 to 4
Post-Tetanic Count (PTC)
- The measured response to 5-sec 50 Hz tetanic stimulation, when the TOFC = 0.
- The number of single twitch responses from 0 to 15 with lower numbers indicating deeper blockade
Note: To support continuous monitoring, TwitchView utilizes AutoPTCTM. When AutoPTC mode is on, TwitchView will automatically transition between TOF, the default mode, and PTC based on your patient’s real-time presentation.
How does AutoPTC work?
Before every PTC, a TOF is performed. If a response is elicited, the monitor cancels PTC and resumes TOF monitoring.
Tip: PTC >10 typically indicates T1 will return within ~10 minutes
Tip: Pre-paralytic start-up is recommended to confirm correct electrode placement and to allow the monitor to select the electrode with the largest EMG signal and set the optimal stimulating current. However, TwitchView can be utilized post-paralytic with default settings.
Typical Pre-paralytic EMG
Atypical Pre-paralytic EMG
Tip: If the EMG signal is poor or the monitor sets a high stimulating current (≥70mA), reposition the stimulation leads, start a New Session on the TwitchView and redo quickstart.
Every time TwitchView takes a measurement, a data point is plotted on the trend plot. The trend plot enables you to visualize how neuromuscular blocking agents affect each patient differently. Using the trend plot, you can proactively manage the patient's level of blockade intraoperatively—redosing NMBA according to the individual patient's response and the required surgical conditions.
The level of neuromuscular blockade increases from the top to the bottom of the plot.
Tip: To view the trend plot, touch the box in the bottom left corner of the TwitchView display. The most recent data point will always be to the right of the plot near 0. You can adjust the trend plot timescale by pressing 15m, 30m, 1hr, 2hr or 8hr and scroll back by pressing the blue arrow.
Many institutions implement literature-based reversal guides to use the information provided by TwitchView to 1) select the appropriate reversal drug and 2) dose the selected reversal in accordance with the patient's real-time need.
Patient response to NMBA is variable.
Facial assessments are susceptible to direct muscle stimulation, and facial muscles recover quickly.
It’s common for patients to breathe spontaneously in PTC.
Recovery of the Adductor Pollicis aligns with the recovery of the upper airway.1
The clinical standard for “adequate recovery” is a TOFR ≥0.9 measured at the adductor pollicis muscle.