P H A R M

Question 1

What is a contraindication to the use of succinylcholine for rapid sequence intubation?

Answer 1

Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocker often used during rapid sequence intubation because it has a rapid onset (45-60 seconds) and offset (6-10) minutes of action. However, it can cause significant potassium release and life threatening arrhythmia so should not be used in pts with or at high risk for hyperkalemia, including pts with crush or burn injuries more than 8 hours old (high risk of rhabdo), pts with demyelinating syndromes like Guillain Barre and pts with tumor lysis syndrome.