Calcium channel blockers do not enhance increases in plasma potassium after succinylcholine in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether chronic calcium channel blocker therapy exaggerates the rise in plasma potassium concentration ([K+]) after succinylcholine administration.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University and Veterans Affairs hospitals.


METHODS
36 ASA physical status III and IV male patients: 21 patients taking chronic calcium channel blockers and 15 patients not receiving calcium channel blockers, all of whom were scheduled for inpatient surgical procedures with general anesthesia.


METHODS
In all patients, anesthesia was induced with high-dose opioids plus a sedative-hypnotic, and intubation was facilitated with 1 to 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine without nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker pretreatment.


RESULTS
Plasma [K+] was measured prior to induction and 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 15 minutes after succinylcholine was administered. A modest average peak rise of 0.5 mEq/L in plasma [K+] was observed, but there were no differences between patients who were or were not receiving calcium channel blockers.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients receiving chronic calcium channel blocker therapy are at no greater risk of hyperkalemia after succinylcholine than those not taking such medications.
Rooke
G A
GA
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Freund
P R
PR
Tomlin
J
J
D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004176:Dipyridamole; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D004077:Digoxin; D005665:Furosemide; D017409:Sufentanil; D014700:Verapamil; D009543:Nifedipine; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; D013390:Succinylcholine; D003975:Diazepam; D011188:Potassium; D005283:Fentanyl