title: Succinylcholine: adverse effects and alternatives in emergency medicine.
abstract: Succinylcholine has long been the favored neuromuscular blocking agent for emergent airway management because of its rapid onset, dependable effect, and short duration. However, it has a plethora of undesirable side effects, ranging from the inconsequential to the catastrophic. When patients requiring tracheal intubation present with potential contraindications to succinylcholine use, the emergency physician will need to substitute a rapid-onset nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, such as rocuronium or mivacurium. An understanding of the pharmacology of these agents is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Southside, PA 15203, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Orebaugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000732:Androstanols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D000075202:Contraindications; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077590:Mivacurium; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D000077123:Rocuronium; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D007546:Isoquinolines; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D000077590:Mivacurium; D013390:Succinylcholine; D000077123:Rocuronium