Potentiation of succinylcholine phase II block with isoflurane

To determine the effect of isoflurane upon phase II block 20 patients were given succinylcholine by infusion at a rate which maintained the twitch tension of the adductor pollicis muscle at 10% of control for 2 to 4 h. The patients were assigned randomly to either nitrous-oxide-isoflurane (0.75-1.5% inspired) or nitrous-oxide-fentanyl for maintenance of anesthesia, and neuromuscular activity was monitored using train-of-four stimulation. Tachyphylaxis to succinylcholine was observed in both groups but this was followed, in the isoflurane group but not in the fentanyl group, by a decrease in succinylcholine requirement. This decrease was related to the extent of phase II block present. It is concluded that isoflurane potentiates succinylcholine phase II block although the mechanisms involved are not necessarily the same as in the potentiation of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs.