Postoperative muscle pains.

MUSCLE pains have been reported as occurring after the administration of suxamethonium chloride. Bourne et al. (1952) made passing mention of this, but not until 1954 did Churchill-Davidson fully describe these pains and determine their incidence — primarily in the ambulant patient. His series was small, covering 68 patients. In view of considerable speculation on the frequency and importance of these pains it was decided to make a more detailed survey of their incidence and to this end two concurrent series of patients were submitted to a careful postoperative ethiodide, decamethonium iodide or other relaxant. METHOD