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Pretreatment with remifentanil is associated with less succinylcholine-induced fasciculation.

Author(s): Nasseri K, Arastheh MT, Shami S

Affiliation(s): Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. nasseri_k@muk.ac.ir

Publication date & source: 2010-02, Middle East J Anesthesiol., 20(4):515-9.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Succinylcholine is a popular muscle relaxant and one of its most common side effects is muscle fasciculation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of remifentanil in preventing succinylcholine-induced fasciculation in patients undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: In aprospective, double blind study, 60 ASA I & II patients were randomly assigned into two groups (30 each) to receive either remifentanil 1 microg/kg (Group R), or saline 3 ml (Group S) as a pretreatment agent, one minute before induction of general anesthesia by propofol, fentanyl, and 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine. The duration and the intensity of fasciculation were assessed using a four-point rating scale. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher exact test and Student-t-test using SPSS software. RESULTS: In the remifentanil group the duration (p < 0.001) and the intensity (p < 0.001) of fasciculation were lower compared to the saline group. However the incidence of bradycardia was higher in the remifentanil group in comparison to the group which received normal saline. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that remifentanil can reduce the duration and the intensity of succinylcholine induced fasciculation. However, it induces greater bradycardia.

Page last updated: 2010-10-05

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