Effects of rocuronium pretreatment on muscle enzyme levels following suxamethonium.

Abstract

The effects of different time intervals between rocuronium pretreatment and suxamethonium administration on muscle-derived enzymes and myoglobin were evaluated. Fifty-two patients, aged 3-6 years, were allocated randomly to receive pretreatment of either rocuronium 1 min or 4 min, or a placebo, before suxamethonium. Serum creatine-phosphokinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and myoglobin concentrations were measured before treatment and at 30 min, 6 h and 24 h after suxamethonium administration. Mean serum CK and myoglobin concentrations in the rocuronium groups were significantly less than in the saline group 24 h and 30 min after suxamethonium administration, respectively (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the rocuronium groups. Mean LDH and AST concentrations were higher at 6 h and 24 h after suxamethonium administration compared with preadministration levels, respectively (P < 0.05). We concluded that intervals of 1 min or 4 min between the rocuronium and suxamethonium administrations have the same effect on enzyme levels.