effects of pretreatment with atracurium on serum electrolytes and CPK enzyme changes of succinylcholine

ABSTRACT

The effects of different preteatment doses of atracurium on serum electrolyte [K+, Na+, Ca++] and creatine phosphokinase enzyme [CPK] were studied in 40 patients divided into 4 groups [n = 10]. Group I [control] received normal saline. Groups II, III and IV received atracurium pretreatment in a dose of 0.04, 0.05, 0.06 mg/kg, respectively. The hyperkalemic response following succinylcholine was ameliorated with atracurium preteatment. The percentage of serum K+ rise was 1.42%, 2.57%, 4.6%, and 9.39% in groups I, II, III and IV, respectively. Atracurium preteatment did not only abolish the hypocalcemia following SCh [6.33% and 0.44% in groups I and II, respectively], but it even led to a minimal increase in serum Ca++ [0.86% and 1.4% in groups III and IV, respectively]. The rise in serum SCh administration was reduced markedly with atracurium pretreatment [133.94%, 50.28%, 15.17% and 12.08% in groups I, II, III and IV, respectively. Serum Na+ changes did not show obvious difference between the control group and atracurium pretreatment groups. In conclusion, pretreatment with atracurium reduced markedly, in a dose dependent manner, the serum electrolytes [K+, Na+, Ca++], and CPK enzyme changes of succinylcholine