title: Suxamethonium-induced hyperkalaemia in patients with severe intra-abdominal infections.
abstract: In nine patients, undergoing repeat operations because of severe intra-abdominal infection developing after major abdominal surgery, serum potassium concentrations were monitored during induction of anaesthesia. Four patients showed an increase of serum potassium ranging from 2.5 to 3.1 mmol/litre above baseline values within 3-6 min after suxamethonium 100 mg i.v. In five patients there was no change. The four patients demonstrating an increase had suffered from pyrexia and leucocytosis for at least 2 weeks. The other five had signs of infection for no more than 9 days. It is concluded that patients with signs of severe intra-abdominal infection lasting longer than 1 week represent an additional category susceptible to suxamethonium-induced hyperkalaemia. They should receive only non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. When the use of suxamethonium is unavoidable, the injection of a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant before the administration of suxamethonium is recommended.
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000601:surgery; D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012306:Risk; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine