Magnesium sulfate prevents succinylcholine induced fasciculations in toxemic parturients

Abstract

Subjects of the study were ten toxemic patients who were treated with magnesium sulfate and subsequently underwent cesarean section during general anesthesia. No patient showed any sign of muscle fasciculation following administration of succinylcholine. Anesthetic and obstetric management was in each case uneventful. The mean serum magnesium concentration was 4.3 mg/dl, with a range of 2.9-6.4 mg/dl. The serum magnesium concentrations were all above normal, and correlated significantly with the total dose of magnesium sulfate and the duration of magnesium therapy.