The effect of thiopentone on severity and duration of succinylcholine-induced fasciculation.
BACKGROUND
Thiopentone has a protective effect as far as succinylcholine-induced myalgias are concerned; however, a few studies were done in the efficacy of thiopentone on fasciculation induced by succinylcholine. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of thiopentone on onset, duration, and severity of fasciculation caused by succinylcholine injection.


METHODS
Three hundred patients, in American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification I and II, undergoing elective ocular surgery at Farabi Eye Hospital in 2003 were considered and divided into 2 groups who received intravenous succinylcholine immediately and 30 seconds after thiopentone injection, respectively. After premedication and induction of anesthesia, the severity and duration of fasciculations caused by succinylcholine were compared between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
In the group using succinylcholine immediately after thiopentone injection, the onset of fasciculation was earlier (P = 0.0006), and duration of fasciculation was shorter (P = 0.0002) than the other group. In addition, moderate to severe fasciculation was found more in the group using succinylcholine 30 seconds after thiopentone injection (P = 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with thiopentone immediately before succinylcholine administration can decrease the duration and severity of fasciculation more than thiopentone injection 30 seconds before succinylcholine administration.
Shoroghi
Mehrdad
M
Department of Anesthesia, Farabi Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran.
Zahedi
Hamid
H
Farahbakhsh
Farshid
F
Sheikhvatan
Mehrdad
M
Abbasi
Ali
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013390:Succinylcholine; D013874:Thiopental / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D013390:Succinylcholine; D013874:Thiopental