Rocuronium for muscle relaxation in two children with Friedreich's ataxia

Abstract

Friedreich's ataxia is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by a defect in the gene that encodes a mitochondrial protein called frataxin. We report the use of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg-1 in two adolescent girls with Friedreich's ataxia undergoing propofol-sufentanil-oxygen-air anaesthesia for spinal surgery. Neuromuscular transmission was monitored using acceleromyography, and onset and recovery times were recorded. The clinical duration of rocuronium was comparable to that of children without neuromuscular disease (25% recovery T1=44 and 24 min for patients 1 and 2 respectively. © Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2004.