Pretreatment with remifentanil is associated with less succinylcholine-induced fasciculation.
BACKGROUND
Succinylcholine is a popular muscle relaxant and one of its most common side effects is muscle fasciculation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of remifentanil in preventing succinylcholine-induced fasciculation in patients undergoing general anesthesia.


METHODS
In aprospective, double blind study, 60 ASA I & II patients were randomly assigned into two groups (30 each) to receive either remifentanil 1 microg/kg (Group R), or saline 3 ml (Group S) as a pretreatment agent, one minute before induction of general anesthesia by propofol, fentanyl, and 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine. The duration and the intensity of fasciculation were assessed using a four-point rating scale. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher exact test and Student-t-test using SPSS software.


RESULTS
In the remifentanil group the duration (p < 0.001) and the intensity (p < 0.001) of fasciculation were lower compared to the saline group. However the incidence of bradycardia was higher in the remifentanil group in comparison to the group which received normal saline.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that remifentanil can reduce the duration and the intensity of succinylcholine induced fasciculation. However, it induces greater bradycardia.
Nasseri
Karim
K
Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. nasseri_k@muk.ac.ir
Arastheh
Mehdi Tayebi
MT
Shami
Shoaleh
S
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077208:Remifentanil; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D013390:Succinylcholine; D000077208:Remifentanil; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol