ISOFLURANE INHIBITS MUSCLE FASCICULATIONS CAUSED BY SUCCINYLCHOLINE IN CHILDREN

The incidence and intensity of muscle fasciculations as well as the oc currence of cardiac arrhythmias following succinylcholine were evaluat ed in 36 premedicated children (1.0-5.7 years) after intravenous induc tion with thiopentone or after inhalation induction with isoflurane (3 .75 vol-% in 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen). The study was randomized. I n the thiopentone group, fasciculations were seen in all children and in the isoflurane group in 5 of 18 children (P<0.001). The median of t he duration of fasciculations was 15 s with a minimum of 5 s and maxim um of 36 s (1st quartile 9 s and 3rd quartile 20 s) in the thiopentone group and 0 (0-15) s with a 1st quartile of 0 and a 3rd quartile of 3 s in the isoflurane group (P<0.001). No cardiac arrhythmias were note d in either group. In conclusion, isoflurane in nitrous oxide inhibits succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculations in children.