The prevention of muscle pains associated with the use of suxamethonium.

The incidence and severity of muscle pain was assessed in 150 males who underwent bronchoscopy using thiopentone and suxamethonium iodide or chloride for anaesthesia. In 50 patients tubocurarine 3-5 mg, diplacin 10-15 mg or kvalidil 10-15 mg was injected intravenously after the induction dose of thiopentone. In a further group of 50 patients neostigmine 0.5-0.75 mg was injected intramuscularly 20-30 minutes after bronchoscopy. The remaining 50 patients were not given either of these treatments and formed a control group. Six patients developed pain when non-depolarizing relaxants had been used compared with 29 in the neostigmine group and 40 in the control group.