title: The importance of activity and pretreatment in the prevention of suxamethonium myalgias.
abstract: We have studied the effectiveness of pretreatment with atracurium 0.05 mg kg-1 and placebo before administration of suxamethonium, in the prevention of postoperative myalgia in inpatients having surgery in which rapid postoperative mobilization was possible (vaginal hysterectomy). On the second day after operation, the patients pretreated with atracurium had significantly fewer postoperative myalgias than those receiving placebo (P < 0.025). All patients were significantly more active on the second day compared with the first day after operation (P < 0.025). Possible causal relationships are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Camp Hill Medical Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Oxorn
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Whatley
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001279:Atracurium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium; D013390:Succinylcholine