[A case of prolonged apnea probably caused by vecuronium potentiated with hypermagnesemia].
A 73-year-old female weighing 41 kg who had undergone ilecolostomy under general anesthesia showed extremely prolonged apnea. Despite only 7 mg of vecuronium, she needed postoperative mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. A postoperative examination revealed hypermagnesemia, which probably potentiated the effect of vecuronium. Her hypermagnesemia might be caused by chronic renal failure with hypocalcemia and administration of magnesium sulfate as a cathartic. Plasma magnesium concentration should be measured perioperatively in all surgical cases.
Kunitoku
Y
Y
Department of Anesthesiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine.
Sakanashi
Y
Y
Kunitoku
N
N
Ushijima
K
K
Terasaki
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D003125:Colostomy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D014673:Vecuronium Bromide / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014673:Vecuronium Bromide; D008274:Magnesium