Rocuronium prevents succinylcholine-induced fasciculations

The effect of defasciculating doses of pancuronium and atracurium on succinylcholine neuromuscular blockade

Background:

A defasciculating dose of non-depolarizing muscle relaxant administered prior succinylcholine decrease its side effects including fasciculations and postoperative myalgias; however it is believed that the dosage of succinylcholine should be increased when such a pre-treatment is used.

Objectives:

We hypothesized that a defasciculating dose of pancuronium as a pre-treatment could prolong its duration of effect.

Patients and Methods:

Forty patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery were consecutively assigned into 5 groups, a first group without pre-treatment (succinylcholine 1 mg/kg) and 4 subsequent groups of pretreatment with atracurium 0.05 mg/kg + succinylcholine 1 or 1.5 mg/kg and pancuronium 7.5 µg /kg + succinylcholine 1 and 1.5 mg/kg. The muscle relaxant effect of succinylcholine was assessed with a force transducer using train of four stimulations every 12 seconds. Kruskall Wallis Anova test was used to compare results.

Results:

The duration of succinylcholine induced paralysis (1 and 1.5 mg/kg) was significantly prolonged with pre-treatment with pancuronium but succinylcholine 1mg/kg did not reached maximum blockade after pre-treatment with atracurium. After pancuronium, full recovery after succinylcholine 1.5 and 1 mg/kg occurred respectively after 18 and 15 minutes. P < 0.05 vs. 12 minutes for succinylcholine 1mg/kg alone.

Conclusions:

This study highlights potentiation effect of a defasciculating dose of pancuronium on succinylcholine paralysis suggesting the lack of justification to increase succinylcholine dosage.

A randomized trial to identify optimal precurarizing dose of rocuronium to avoid precurarization-induced neuromuscular block

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine the safe precurarizing dose of rocuronium required to avoid neuromuscular block after precurarization.

METHODS

Twenty-four female patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 12 patients each. General anesthesia was induced and maintained with remifentanil and propofol, and a laryngeal mask was inserted without the aid of a neuromuscular blocking agent. Patients were randomized to receive either 0.03 or 0.06 mg/kg rocuronium as a precurarizing dose. Neuromuscular block was monitored using acceleromyographic train-of-four (TOF) of the adductor pollicis muscle. Three minutes after the precurarization, all patients received suxamethonium 1.5 mg/kg and were graded on severity of fasciculations.

RESULTS

The average TOF ratio was kept above 0.9 even 3 min after precurarization with 0.03 mg/kg rocuronium. In contrast, in patients who received 0.06 mg/kg rocuronium, the ratios significantly decreased to 0.72 (0.14) [mean (SD), P < 0.004] and 0.68 (0.18) (P < 0.006) 2 min and 3 min after the precurarization, respectively. No visible muscle movement was observed following suxamethonium injection, except that one patient who received 0.03 mg/kg rocuronium showed very fine muscle movements of the fingertips.

CONCLUSION

Rocuronium at 0.06 mg/kg is an overdose for precurarization. The results of the present study demonstrate that a safe and effective precurarizing dose of rocuronium is 0.03 mg/kg.

Succinylcholine or rocuronium? A meta-analysis of the effects on intubation conditions

This meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the effects of succinylcholine (SCH) and rocuronium (RCR) on endotracheal intubation (ETI) conditions. Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified via medline and a manual search of references. The frequencies of excellent and unacceptable ETI conditions in subjects receiving SCH 1.0-1.5 mg/kg and RCR 0.6-1.2 mg/kg were determined using standard statistical methods. Inclusion criteria were met by 16 RCTs, representing 1362 subjects. SCH was associated with a 17.7% increase (95% CI = 13-22) in the frequency of excellent ETI conditions and a 5.1% decrease (95% CI = -7.3 to -2.9) in the frequency of unacceptable ETI conditions, when compared with RCR. In the subgroup undergoing true rapid sequence intubation, SCH was associated with a 19.1% increase (95% CI = 13.7-24.5) in the frequency of excellent ETI conditions. SCH appears to be superior to RCR in creating excellent ETI conditions and avoiding unacceptable ETI conditions.

Succinylcholine pretreatment using gallamine or mivacurium during rapid sequence induction in children: a randomized, controlled study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine if pretreatment with either gallamine or mivacurium before succinylcholine in children is associated with reduction in fasciculations; postoperative myalgias; or serum levels of potassium, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and myoglobin.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

SETTING

Operating room at a children's hospital.

PATIENTS

45 ASA physical status IE children, aged 3 to 15 years, scheduled for emergency surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

The children received either normal saline 0.5 mL, mivacurium chloride 0.03 mg. kg(-1), or gallamine triethiodide 0.04 mg. kg(-1)2 minutes prior to rapid sequence induction (RSI) using thiopental sodium 5 mg. kg(-1), fentanyl 2 microg. kg(-1), and succinylcholine 2 mg. kg(-1).

MEASUREMENTS

Serum potassium concentration (0, 3, 5, 7.5, and 15 min), myoglobin concentration (5 and 15 min), and CPK concentration (0 min and 24 hr). Fasciculation and myalgia were rated on a 0 to 3 score.

MAIN RESULTS

There was no difference between groups for fasciculation (p = 0.87) or myalgia score (p = 0.52). The mivacurium group had significantly less increase in potassium at 5 minutes (0.45 vs. 0.0, p = 0.01), myoglobin at 5 minutes (56 vs. 2, p < 0.001), myoglobin at 15 minutes (128 vs. 2.5, p < 0.001), and CPK at 24 hours (399 vs. 138, p < 0.001) following succinylcholine when compared with normal saline. Additionally, we found a significant level of association (p < 0.001) between fasciculation and myoglobin levels and fasciculation and CPK levels (p < 0.001). Gallamine was not effective in reducing the increase of potassium, myoglobin, or CPK. However, the dose of gallamine used for pretreatment was 13 times less than the dose of mivacurium.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of mivacurium 0.03 mg. kg(-1) intravenously 2 minutes before administration of succinylcholine 2 mg. kg(-1) in children is effective in reducing the increase in serum potassium at 5 minutes, the increase in myoglobin at 5 minutes and 15 minutes, and the increase in CPK at 24 hours.

Advances in airway pharmacology. Emerging trends and evolving controversy

The practice of emergency medicine is a constant onslaught of decision making and challenges and the issues of airway management are no exception. Obtaining proper airway control requires thoughtful organization and planning, and necessitates a thorough working knowledge of the drugs or medications employed. Because there are so many agents available, expertise in airway pharmacology has become essential. The emergency physician who is well versed in the uses, and the physiologic effects, contraindications, and alternatives of drugs administered is both providing immediate intervention and positively affecting patient outcome, which is certainly a goal worth achieving.

Succinylcholine-associated postoperative myalgia

The subject of postoperative myalgia associated with the use of succinylcholine is reviewed. We discuss the mechanisms of succinylcholine-induced myalgia and the techniques available to prevent and treat the myalgia. In situations where patients are at risk of developing myalgia and succinylcholine is the neuromuscular blocker of choice, the use of a combination of techniques may prove to be a useful strategy.

Rapid sequence intubation of the pediatric patient. Fundamentals of practice

Rapid-sequence intubation and rapid sequence induction of general anesthesia are synonyms and refer to the technique of choice for tracheal intubation in many pediatric patients in the emergency department. The principles of safe practice and basic standards of care uniformly apply to all clinical situations in which the technique is performed. RSI has two basic technical components: induction of general anesthesia and direct laryngoscopy with tracheal intubation. The technique is a prescribed protocol that can be modified slightly by the clinical circumstances. RSI is designed to rapidly create ideal intubating conditions, attenuate pathophysiologic reflex responses to direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation, and reduce the risk for pulmonary aspiration. Optimal performance requires appropriate training and knowledge, technical skill, and sound medical judgment. Medical and airway evaluation, careful patient selection, recognition of the need for consultation or safer alternatives, thorough familiarity with appropriate drug management, and attention to detail are essential for minimizing the risk for adverse complications. RSI with a rapid injection of preselected dosages of an anesthetic induction agent and muscle relaxant is the pharmacologic technique of choice. Premedication should not be routinely used. Anticipation, recognition, and management of complications are inherent to the competent delivery of all medical care. The unanticipated difficult airway is arguably the most severe complication of RSI, and all individuals performing the technique must prepare in advance a specific plan for this scenario. As with all such skills or procedures, a quality assurance program is important to monitor care, and individuals practicing RSI need to take appropriate steps to maintain competence.