title: Suxamethonium and cardiac arrest.
abstract: We report a case of cardiac arrest due to hyperkalaemia following administration of suxamethonium during a procedure to facilitate a change of endotracheal tube in a septic patient. The cause of this rare but fatal complication is briefly described and discussed. In view of this, suxamethonium should be used with great caution in patients with burns and other forms of physical injury, in a number of nervous system disorders, and in critically ill patients requiring prolonged ITU care.
authors.affiliation: Medical Specialist Centre, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Fountain
mesh_terms: D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine