[Serum potassium rise following depolarizing muscle relaxants in immobilized patients (author's transl)]

We investigated the time-course of serum potassium levels after depolarizing muscle relaxants in immobilized patients of our critical care unit. It could be demonstrated that the duration and the degree of immobilisation determines the increase of serum potassium after application of succinylcholine or Imbretil (hexacarbacholine). In burned patients or patients with cord-lesions an earlier increase of serum potassium could be seen than in other immobilized patients. The potassium time-course shows a difference between short acting and long acting muscle relaxants. A block of repolarisation and its possibility of generating is discussed.