Break the Spasm with Succinylcholine, but Risk Intraoperative Awareness with Undiagnosed Pseudocholinesterase Deficiency

Succinylcholine is a commonly used medication in all aspects of anesthetic care, and there are a number of known side effects and complications associated with its use. However, when succinylcholine is used emergently, anesthesia providers must remain vigilant to undiagnosed conditions that pose add...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Case reports in anesthesiology 2020-09, Vol.2020 (2020), p.1-3
Main Authors: Bui, Danny D., Asher, Shyamal R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airway management
Anesthesia
Anesthesiology
Case Report
Case reports
Decision making
Heuristic
Laboratories
Oxygen saturation
Paralysis
Patients
Succinylcholine
Surgery
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Summary:Succinylcholine is a commonly used medication in all aspects of anesthetic care, and there are a number of known side effects and complications associated with its use. However, when succinylcholine is used emergently, anesthesia providers must remain vigilant to undiagnosed conditions that pose additional risks to patients. We report the use of succinylcholine to treat acute, refractory laryngospasm after extubation leading to prolonged neuromuscular paralysis. There are unique challenges presented by this case including the risk of anesthesia awareness with recall due to the cognitive biases that prevent the clinical diagnosis of pseudocholinesterase deficiency.
ISSN:2090-6382
2090-6390
DOI:10.1155/2020/8874617