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Suxamethonium-induced muscle pains are not related to cholinesterase activity
J M Ansermino1, M A Burke, P M Upton
1Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, Oxford.
Abstract:
We have investigated the possibility of using the pre-operative measurement of cholinesterase activity to predict the postoperative development of myalgia following the administration of suxamethonium. Seventy-seven patients presenting for elective extraction of wisdom teeth were entered in the study. All patients received a standard anaesthetic regimen, including suxamethonium to facilitate tracheal intubation, and standardised postoperative analgesia. Myalgia was assessed postoperatively and no correlation between muscle pains and cholinesterase activity was found.
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