Propofol permits tracheal intubation but does not affect postoperative myalgias.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of propofol without succinylcholine on intubating conditions and postoperative myalgias in ambulatory surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia. DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized study. SETTING: Ambulatory surgery adult patients. PATIENTS: 56 ASA physical status I and II adult patients undergoing general endotracheal anesthesia. INTERVENTIONS: Group 1 patients received thiamylal plus succinylcholine, Group 2 patients received propofol plus succinylcholine; and Group 3 patients received propofol plus saline. All patients received fentanyl, lidocaine, and nitrous oxide plus isoflurane in oxygen. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Incidence and severity of fasciculations, tracheal intubating conditions, and myalgias on the first and third postoperative days were measured. Propofol did not affect the incidence or severity of fasciculations following succinylcholine, or the incidence of myalgias. Of patients who received propofol without succinylcholine, intubation was successful in 85%. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol did not affect the incidence or severity of postoperative myalgias following succinylcholine.

Undiagnosed pheochromocytoma in a patient with lindau disease.

Lindau disease is characterized by angioblastic lesions of the cerebellum and spinal cord. It may, rarely, be associated with pheochromocytoma. We describe the management of a patient with Lindau disease who was scheduled to undergo craniotomy for removal of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma and who developed severe hypertension following induction of anesthesia. Subsequent work up revealed a previously undiagnosed pheochromocytoma. The importance of recognizing a possible association between these two conditions is discussed.