Is succinylcholine appropriate or obsolete in the intensive care unit?
Muscle relaxants in intensive care unit (ICU) patients are predominantly administered to facilitate intubation. The adverse effect profile of succinylcholine is such that its use in the ICU must be considered obsolete. Suitable alternatives are the intermediately long-acting nondepolarizing relaxants, of which rocuronium is probably preferable.
Booij
L H
LH
Institute for Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, Sint Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.booij@anes.azn.nl
D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*
D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D013390:Succinylcholine