Spontaneous recovery of the thumb twitch from neuromuscular block by suxamethonium in anaesthetized man.
The neuromuscular blocking effect of repeated bolus administration of suxamethonium 1 mg/kg was observed in 10 healthy surgical patients under enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. Tachyphylaxis and slow recovery of the thumb twitch occurred in close dose-relationships with transition of Phase I block to Phase II, using train-of-four fade as an indicator of the transition. Failure of the thumb twitch to recover to 75% of control, and subsequent step-wise depression from additional doses of suxamethonium had a sudden onset shortly after establishment of marked train-of-four fade.
D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004491:Edrophonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013618:Tachyphylaxis; D013933:Thumb / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology
D004491:Edrophonium; D013390:Succinylcholine