 Monitoring the neuromuscular blockade After induction of anesthesia and before administration of rocuronium, monitoring of neuromuscular blockade at the adductor pollicis muscle is initiated using acceleromyography TOF-Watch SX, Organon, Dublin, Ireland. After degreasing the skin, two surface electrodes are placed above the ulnar nerve near the wrist. After induction of general anesthesia, 50-Hz tetanic stimulation is applied for 5 sec and followed after 1 min by train-of-four TOF stimulation every 15 sec. If the response to TOF is stable, calibration and supramaximal stimulation are ensured by built-in calibration function CAL2. After at least 2 min of a stable baseline documentation of the response to TOF, rocuronium is administered. 