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The Effect of Diazepam Pretreatment on the Succinylcholine‐Induced Rise in Intraocular Pressure
Author(s) -
FJELDBORG P.,
HECHT P. S.,
BUSTED N.,
NISSEN A. B.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1985.tb02226.x
Subject(s) - diazepam , medicine , anesthesia , fasciculation , endotracheal intubation , muscle relaxation , intubation , intraocular pressure , bolus (digestion) , neuromuscular blockade , surgery
The influence of diazepam on some adverse effects of succinylcholine was studied double‐blind. Thirty patients (ASA I‐II) were allocated to groups receiving either diazepam 0.08 mg/kg or d‐tubocurarine 0.05 mg/kg 5 min before a bolus of succinylcholine, 1 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. Fasciculations were more frequent in the diazepam group (80%) than in the d‐tubocurarine group (13%). Relaxation, onset and duration of neuromuscular blockade were comparable in the two groups. The rise in intraocular pressure after succinylcholine and endotracheal intubation was small (0.27 kPa = 2 mmHg) but significant ( P <0.01) after diazepam pretreatment. In this group the rise in intraocular pressure was 50% lower than the rise seen in the d‐tubocurarine group ( P <0.01). We conclude that pretreatment with diazepam 0.08 mg/kg will reduce but not prevent a rise in the intraocular pressure after succinylcholine in a rapid sequence induction. In the management of patients with penetrating eye injuries the use of succinylcholine still carries some risk even after diazepam pretreatment.