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Alfentanil inhibits muscle fasciculations caused by suxamethonium in children and in young adults
Author(s) -
YliHankala A.,
Randell T.,
Varpula T.,
Lindgren L.
Publication year - 1992
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.1399-6576.1992.tb03524.x
Subject(s) - fasciculation , alfentanil , medicine , anesthesia , saline , intubation , propofol
The effect of alfentanil on suxamethonium‐induced muscle fasciculations was studied in a double‐blind study in 34 children (mean age 6.8 years) and in 30 adults (mean age 20 years). After pretreatment with either alfentanil 50 μg kg ‐1 or saline, each patient was anaesthetized with a sleep dose of thiopental followed by suxamethonium 1.5 mg kg ‐1 for endotracheal intubation. Compared to the control groups, alfentanil significantly decreased the intensity of visible muscle fasciculations caused by suxamethonium. In children, the duration of muscle fasciculations was shorter in the alfentanil than in the control group. In adults, the intensity rather than the duration of fasciculations was attenuated by alfentanil. The inhibition of fasciculations caused by alfentanil was also demonstrated in children in the surface electromyogram recorded on the biceps. There was no circulatory response to endotracheal intubation in the groups pretreated with alfentanil.