title: [Use of atracurium for the prevention of fasciculations and succinylcholine myalgia in athletes undergoing orthopedic surgery].
abstract: The Authors report their clinical experience about the use of atracurium besylate in preventing succinylcholine-induced fasciculations and postoperative myalgias in fifty athletes (ASA class 1), submitted to arthroscopic meniscectomy. The patients were pretreated with atracurium 5 mg i.v. or saline solution in a double-blind fashion. After 2.5 minutes, succinylcholine 1.3 mg/kg was administered, and fasciculations were recorded on a scale ranging from 0 to 3. Twenty-four hours after surgery all subjects were questioned about myalgias occurrence, scored by a 0-3 scale. Fasciculations occurred in all patients who received saline and in 44% of those treated with atracurium. Myalgias on the postoperative day were observed in 80% of patients treated with saline solution, but only in 36% of patients who received atracurium. The difference between atracurium and saline solution was statistically significant (p less than 0.001) either for fasciculations or myalgias incidence. These findings show that atracurium 5 mg i.v. is effective in preventing succinylcholine-induced fasciculations and postoperative myalgias, and suggest atracurium as the drug of choice for this purpose, particularly in muscular subjects.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Anestesia e Rianimazione II, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramaioli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albertario
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Dionigi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001279:Atracurium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009985:Orthopedics; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D011292:Premedication; D013177:Sports; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium; D013390:Succinylcholine
vernacular_title: Impiego dell'atracurium nella prevenzione delle fascicolazioni e delle mialgie da succinilcolina in atleti sottoposti a chirurgia ortopedica.