Consequences of succinylcholine administration to patients using statins

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Statins can cause muscle damage (myotoxicity, myopathy, myalgias).
• Patients on statins may be more vulnerable to muscle injury from succinylcholine.
• This study investigated succinylcholine's effects in statin users versus non-users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if succinylcholine increases myoglobin, potassium, and creatine kinase more in statin users.
• To assess if statin use exacerbates succinylcholine-induced postoperative muscle pain.

Main Methods:

• Compared 38 statin users with 32 non-users.
• Administered succinylcholine for intubation during general anesthesia.
• Measured plasma myoglobin, potassium, creatine kinase, and muscle pain (myalgia).

Main Results:

• Myoglobin levels at 20 minutes were higher in statin users (P=0.018).
• Fasciculations were more intense in statin users (P=0.047).
• Potassium, creatine kinase, and muscle pain were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

• Statin users showed a small, likely not clinically significant, increase in myoglobin post-succinylcholine.
• Succinylcholine's effects in patients taking statins are probably minor and of limited clinical consequence.