Succinylcholine-Induced Fasciculation is Prevented by Mivacurium-Precurarization

Chung, Kum Hee; Kang, Jeong Wan; Lee, Jong Yeon

Abstract

BACKGOUND: Succinylcholine (SCC) injection may be associated with adverse effects including elevated serum potassium (K ) and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) level, and postoperative myalgia. Many studies have been made to prevent these adverse effects such as pretreatment with non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. The effects of the pretreatment with vecuronium or mivacurium, a new non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker, on SCC-induced fasciculation, serum K and CPK level was investigated in this study.
METHODS
ASA physical status I or II, 40 patients were allocated randomly into 4 groups. Group I as a control group received SCC 1 mg/kg only, while the other groups were pretreated with vecuronium 0.02 mg/kg (0.4 x ED95) (group II), mivacurium 0.02 mg/kg (0.25 x ED95) (group III) and 0.03 mg/kg (0.4 x ED95) (group IV) before the SCC 1.5 mg/kg injection, respectively. Serum K concentration was measured just before anesthetic induction and 5 minute after SCC injection, and serum CPK was estimated before induction and at 24~36 hours postoperatively. And the fasciculation after SCC injection was graded by Cullen's suggestion.
RESULTS
Serum K concentration was increased in group I and decreased in pretreated groups, but the difference was not significant within each group and between the groups. Serum CPK level was increased in group I, II and IV but these changes were also insignificant between all groups. The grade of SCC-induced fasciculation was attenuated in group II and IV (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Like vecuronium, mivacurium 0.03 mg/kg is effective to reduce fasciculation after SCC injection, but 0.02 mg/kg is not. However, any complication does not occur in the two dosages.