PRETREATMENT WITH REMIFENTANIL IS ASSOCIATED WITH LESS SUCCINYLCHOLINE-INDUCED FASCICULATION

Background: Succinylcholine is a popular muscle relaxant and one of its most common side effects smuscle fasciculation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of remifentanil in preventing succinylcholine-induced fasciculation in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods: In a prospective, double blind study, 60 ASA I II patients were randomly assigned into two groups (30 each) to receive either remifentanil1 μg/kg (Group R), or saline 3 ml (Group S) as a pretreatment agent, one minute before induction of general anesthesia by propofol, entanyl, and 1.5 mg/kg succinylcholine. The duration and the intensity of fasciculation were assessed using a four-point rating scale. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher exact test and Student-t-test using SPSS software. Results: In the remifentanil group the duration (p 0.001) and the intensity (p 0.001) of fasciculation were lower compared to the saline group. However the incidence of bradycardia as higher in the remifentanil group in comparison to the group which received normal saline. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that remifentanil can reduce the duration and the intensity of succinylcholine induced fasciculation. However, it induces greater bradycardia.