Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by VAN DER SPEK, A. F. L.
Right arrow Articles by SCHORK, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by VAN DER SPEK, A. F. L.
Right arrow Articles by SCHORK, M. A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1990, Vol. 64, No. 1 21-27
© 1990 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

research-article

CHANGES IN RESISTANCE TO MOUTH OPENING INDUCED BY DEPOLARIZING AND NON-DEPOLARIZING NEUROMUSCULAR RELAXANTS

A. F. L. VAN DER SPEK, M.D.*, P. I. REYNOLDS, M.D., W. B. FANG, M.D., J. A. ASHTON-MILLER, PH.D., C. S. STOHLER, D.D.S. and M. A. SCHORK, PH.D.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, College of Engineering, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.
School of Dentistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109, U.S.A.

*Address for correspondence: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Michigan, C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, Room C4139, Box 0800, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0800, U.S.A.

Mouth opening was measured in 43 children anaesthetized with isoflurane and paralysed with vecuronium or suxamethonium. Measurements of mouth opening were made for up to 10 min after loss of the adductor pollicis twitch and cessation of muscle fasciculations. In 22 patients receiving suxamethonium, a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in mean mouth opening occurred in the 60 s after loss of twitch and cessation of fasciculations. Mouth opening reductions could last for up to 10 min after the loss of twitch, beyond the return of the twitch. One patient experienced "masseter spasm"; he did not develop malignant hyperpyrexia during 2.5 h of isoflurane anaesthesia. Patients receiving vecuronium showed a significant (P < 0.0006) increase in mouth opening. In 20 subjects, mouth opening was generated with a small (1.67 N) and a larger (4.32 N) force. Proportionally equal reductions in mouth opening were obtained with either force after suxamethonium administration. Relatively equal increases with either force followed vecuronium administration. Isolated masseter spasm is not pathognomonic for malignant hyperpyrexia. If the diagnosis of malignant hyperpyrexia is contemplated, signs of hypermetabolism, such as increases in end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration during constant minute ventilation, should be sought.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Emerg. Med. J.Home page
S J Bauer, K Orio, and B D Adams
Succinylcholine induced masseter spasm during rapid sequence intubation may require a surgical airway: case report
Emerg. Med. J., June 1, 2005; 22(6): 456 - 458.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.