Hazards of succinylcholine administration during electrotherapy.
We describe prolonged apnea following electrotherapy in a patient who was also being treated with a topical organophosphate anticholinesterase, ecothiophate iodide (phospholine iodide), for glaucoma. The increased duration of action of succinylcholine resulted from low levels of serum cholinesterase that had been caused by the organophosphate. Attention is called to other drugs that directly or indirectly (by lowering serum cholinesterase) interact with succinylcholine chloride resulting in prolonged apnea. Other potential hazards of succinylcholine administration, such as hyperkalemia and cardiac arrhythmias, are also discussed.
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D002802:Cholinesterases; D013390:Succinylcholine