title: Mivacurium apnoea: a trap for the unwary.
abstract: We present a case of unanticipated postoperative apnoea in a patient with associated medical illness to illustrate the diagnostic difficulty that can arise in the detection and subsequent management of mivacurium apnoea. A high index of suspicion is essential in the presence of concomitant medical conditions that may cause prolonged apnoea. To our knowledge, no report exists documenting the unanticipated occurrence of mivacurium apnoea in a patient with previously undiagnosed pseudocholinesterase deficiency and concomitant medical illness who has previously undergone 'balanced' general anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ogunbiyi
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Branch
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077590:Mivacurium; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077590:Mivacurium; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase