Fasciculations and Hyperkalaemia Associated with Suxamethonium: Efficacy of Magnesium Sulphate

General anesthesia with controlled ventilation through endotracheal tube is an anaesthetic technique used by the anesthesiologists all over the world. Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is necessary to achieve this technique. Traditionally succinylcholine is drug of choice for induction due to its rapid onset of action. Aim: This study compared the efficiency of magnesium sulphate in reducing fasciculation and increase in serum potassium which are the common complications associated with suxamethonium administration. Methods: Fifty six patients being planned for lower abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia were randomized into two groups M and S. Serum potassium was taken in the theatre, three minutes before induction of anesthesia patients in M group were given 6 mg/kg of magnesium sulphate diluted in 10 ml normal saline intravenously while in S group 10 ml of normal saline was injected intravenously. The occurrence and degree of fasciculation were recorded after administration of suxamethonium in both groups while serum potassium was also taken at the end of fasciculations. The researcher was blinded to the content of the syringes until after the study. Results: More patients in the S group had fasciculations compared to the M group while the degree of fasciculations was more in the S group, the serum potassium increase was more in the saline group.