What Is Succinylcholine Apnea?

What is it? Suxamethonium (succinylcholine) apnoea is rare and occurs when a patient has been given this muscle relaxant prior to surgery but is incapable of metabolising the drug sufficiently rapidly.

How is succinylcholine apnea treated?

Mechanical ventilatory support is the mainstay of treatment until respiratory muscle paralysis spontaneously resolves. Recovery eventually occurs as a result of passive diffusion of succinylcholine away from the neuromuscular junction.

How does succinylcholine cause apnea?

Suxamethonium (succinylcholine) apnoea occurs when a patient has been given the muscle relaxant suxamethonium, but does not have the enzymes to metabolise it. Thus they remain paralysed for an increased length of time and cannot breathe adequately at the end of an anaesthetic.