Succinylcholine-induced hyperkalemia following prolonged pharmacologic neuromuscular blockade. 1997

B A Markewitz, and M R Elstad
Department of Medicine, Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Shreveport, USA.

While being treated for the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a 27-year-old woman developed profound hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest following the administration of succinylcholine chloride (SCh). She had none of the risk factors previously described for development of severe hyperkalemia following SCh administrations; however, she had been intermittently treated with nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs throughout the course of her illness. We suggest that immobilization of critically ill patients with pharmacologic neuromuscular blockade may predispose them to severe hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest following administration of SCh. SCh should be used with great caution in such patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009467 Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction by causing sustained depolarization of the motor end plate. These agents are primarily used as adjuvants in surgical anesthesia to cause skeletal muscle relaxation. Depolarizing Muscle Relaxants,Muscle Relaxants, Depolarizing,Depolarizing Blockers,Agents, Neuromuscular Depolarizing,Blockers, Depolarizing,Depolarizing Agents, Neuromuscular,Relaxants, Depolarizing Muscle
D010197 Pancuronium A bis-quaternary steroid that is a competitive nicotinic antagonist. As a neuromuscular blocking agent it is more potent than CURARE but has less effect on the circulatory system and on histamine release. Pancuronium Bromide,Pancuronium Curamed,Pancuronium Organon,Pavulon,Bromide, Pancuronium
D004562 Electrocardiography Recording of the moment-to-moment electromotive forces of the HEART as projected onto various sites on the body's surface, delineated as a scalar function of time. The recording is monitored by a tracing on slow moving chart paper or by observing it on a cardioscope, which is a CATHODE RAY TUBE DISPLAY. 12-Lead ECG,12-Lead EKG,12-Lead Electrocardiography,Cardiography,ECG,EKG,Electrocardiogram,Electrocardiograph,12 Lead ECG,12 Lead EKG,12 Lead Electrocardiography,12-Lead ECGs,12-Lead EKGs,12-Lead Electrocardiographies,Cardiographies,ECG, 12-Lead,EKG, 12-Lead,Electrocardiograms,Electrocardiographies, 12-Lead,Electrocardiographs,Electrocardiography, 12-Lead
D005260 Female Females
D006323 Heart Arrest Cessation of heart beat or MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTION. If it is treated within a few minutes, heart arrest can be reversed in most cases to normal cardiac rhythm and effective circulation. Asystole,Cardiac Arrest,Cardiopulmonary Arrest,Arrest, Cardiac,Arrest, Cardiopulmonary,Arrest, Heart,Asystoles
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006947 Hyperkalemia Abnormally high potassium concentration in the blood, most often due to defective renal excretion. It is characterized clinically by electrocardiographic abnormalities (elevated T waves and depressed P waves, and eventually by atrial asystole). In severe cases, weakness and flaccid paralysis may occur. (Dorland, 27th ed) Hyperpotassemia,Hyperkalemias,Hyperpotassemias
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013390 Succinylcholine A quaternary skeletal muscle relaxant usually used in the form of its bromide, chloride, or iodide. It is a depolarizing relaxant, acting in about 30 seconds and with a duration of effect averaging three to five minutes. Succinylcholine is used in surgical, anesthetic, and other procedures in which a brief period of muscle relaxation is called for. Succinyldicholine,Suxamethonium,Anectine,Celocurine,Dicholine Succinate,Ditilin,Listenon,Lysthenon,Myorelaxin,Quelicin,Succicuran,Succinylcholine Chloride,Succinylcholine Dibromide,Succinylcholine Dichloride,Succinylcholine Dichloride, Di-H2O,Succinylcholine Diiodide,Succinylcholine Diperchlorate,Succinylcholine Iodide,Suxamethonium Bromide,Suxamethonium Chloride,Bromide, Suxamethonium,Dibromide, Succinylcholine,Dichloride, Succinylcholine,Diiodide, Succinylcholine,Diperchlorate, Succinylcholine,Succinate, Dicholine,Succinylcholine Dichloride, Di H2O
D014673 Vecuronium Bromide Monoquaternary homolog of PANCURONIUM. A non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent with shorter duration of action than pancuronium. Its lack of significant cardiovascular effects and lack of dependence on good kidney function for elimination as well as its short duration of action and easy reversibility provide advantages over, or alternatives to, other established neuromuscular blocking agents. NC-45,Norcuron,ORG-NC 45,ORG-NC-45,ORG-NC45,Vecuronium,Vecuronium Bromide, Quaternary Ion,Vecuronium Citrate,Vecuronium Hydrobromide,Vecuronium Hydrochloride,Vecuronium Maleate,Vecuronium Phosphate,Bromide, Vecuronium,Citrate, Vecuronium,Hydrobromide, Vecuronium,Hydrochloride, Vecuronium,Maleate, Vecuronium,NC 45,NC45,ORG NC 45,ORG NC45,ORGNC 45,ORGNC45,Phosphate, Vecuronium

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