Plasma potassium after halothane--suxamethonium induction in children

The changes in plasma potassium following inhalation induction of anaesthesia with halothane followed by suxamethonium were studied in 48 normal children aged 1 to 10 years. Highly significant increases were found in both age groups studied (5 years and under, and 6 to 10 years). The mean percentage increase in plasma potassium and the proportion of children in whom an increase of 0.4 mmol/litre or greater was found, were both greater than in an earlier study on children after thiopentone induction and suxamethonium.