Succinyl Choline ("Sux")
                        ========================

þ Dose of Sux:
 - 1-4 mg/kg
 - infants:  1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg if <12 kg
   (but pediatricians prefer Rocuronium, as worried about prolonged paralysis
   in cases of undiscovered muscular dystrophy.)

þ Onset of Sux:
 - Ready to intubate patient in 90-120 seconds

þ Duration of Sux:
 - 10-20 minutes, usually
 - dialysis depletes cholinesterase and thus right after dialysis succinyl
   choline may cause prolonged paralysis. (per Mike Murphy, Chair at McMaster
   University Dept. of Emergency Medicine)
 - succinyl choline metabolism not dependent on kidneys, so kidney failure
   will not in itself cause prolonged paralysis.

þ Sux and ^ K+
 - will increase K+ about 0.5.
 - may cause increased potassium in tertiary hyperparathyroidism.
 - may cause this in kids, but not out of normal range, not clinically
   significant

þ Sux and Bradycardia
 - In children, atropine should be administered prior to succinylcholine
   to prevent the bradycardia that can result in this population.
   Vagotonic adults should also be pre-treated with atropine.
   Ref: Tintinalli 3rd ed. p 18

þ Myths about Sux
 - used to be thought to increase ICP but now not thought to
   <A-ParalA.TXT -Kovarik>
 - used to thought to increase intraocular pressure so to be avoided with open
   globe but now known not to be a problem, two refs. <A-ParalA.TXT -Moreno>
 - used to be thought to cause hyperkalemia in burns or crush injury but now
   know to NOT be a problem until about 7 (seven) days after trauma.
   <A-ParalA.TXT -Yentis>

See Also: <ParaTabl.TXT -Succ>