Abstract
Succinylcholine has long been the favored neuromuscular blocking agent for emergent airway management because of its rapid onset, dependable effect, and short duration. However, it has a plethora of undesirable side effects, ranging from the inconsequential to the catastrophic. When patients requiring tracheal intubation present with potential contraindications to succinylcholine use, the emergency physician will need to substitute a rapid-onset nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, such as rocuronium or mivacurium. An understanding of the pharmacology of these agents is essential.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Age Factors
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Androstanols / pharmacology
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Androstanols / therapeutic use
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Child
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Contraindications
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Emergency Medicine
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Emergency Treatment / methods*
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Humans
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Infant
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Intubation, Intratracheal / methods*
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Isoquinolines / pharmacology
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Isoquinolines / therapeutic use
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Mivacurium
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Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / pharmacology
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Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / therapeutic use*
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Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / pharmacology
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Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / therapeutic use
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Patient Selection
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Rocuronium
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Succinylcholine / pharmacology
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Succinylcholine / therapeutic use*
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Time Factors
Substances
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Androstanols
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Isoquinolines
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Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents
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Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
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Mivacurium
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Succinylcholine
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Rocuronium