[Effect of succinylcholine on serum potassium concentration in children with chronic renal failure]

Serum potassium (K+) levels were measured after intravenous injection of succinylcholine (SCh) in 10 children with chronic renal failure, 10 normal children aged 1 to 10 years and 10 children with chronic renal failure after pretreatment with pancuronium prior to SCh. Arterial blood gas was maintained within normal ranges. The serum K+ level increased significantly during 10 minutes after SCh in normal children. There was no significant difference between serum K+ levels in normal children and those in children with chronic renal failure. Administration of pancuronium in small doses (20 micrograms.kg-1) prior to SCh (1 mg.kg-1) was not effective to prevent serum K+ elevation completely. Our results indicate that the administration of SCh in children with chronic renal failure might be possible without increasing serum potassium level.