Neuromuscular blocking agents Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are commonly used during surgery to facilitate endotracheal intubation, allow assisted or controlled ventilation, and let surgery proceed easily. Although neuromuscular function will recover spontaneously, such recovery is frequently only partial. However, a rapid and complete reversal of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is desirable in the surgical setting to avoid residual paralysis and related adverse outcomes, amongst them impaired motor behaviour.