Succinylcholine induced hyperkalaemia in patients with strabismus.

Dangerous hyperkalaemia has been reported following administration of succinyleholine chloride (SCC) to patients with burns, 1,2 massive trauma, a tetanus, 4 and a variety of neuromuscular disorders. T M Recently, Tammisto, e t al., 8 reported increases in blood levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) following administration of succinyleholine in patients with strabismus and found them to be higher than after administration to patients for dental and plastic operations. The CPK levels at 24 to 28 hours following succinylcholine administration in the strabismus patients were four times higher than those measured in the other patients. The hypothesis was presented "that strabismus may sometimes be a sign of a latent general disturbance of the muscular system ...". Serum potassium levels were not determined. This present study was undertaken to measure potassium levels following administration of succinylcholine to patients with strabismus to determine if dangerous hyperkalaemia does occur.