Paper I
2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min

Question

After injecting succinylcholine I.V. to have muscle relaxation during a surgical procedure, a patient developed prolonged apnoea. What could be the probable cause. What is the management for the above condition. (2+4)

Q76 marksShort Essays

Answer

Probable cause Prolonged apnoea after succinylcholine most likely reflects atypical (genetically deficient) plasma pseudocholinesterase. Succinylcholine is normally rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma pseudocholinesterase, giving its characteristically brief action; in patients with a genetic variant producing low-activity or absent enzyme, succinylcholine is not broken down at the normal rate, so neuromuscular blockade and apnoea persist for a prolonged period (potentially hours) instead of the usual few minutes.

Management

  • Continue mechanical ventilation/assisted respiration and maintain anaesthesia/sedation until neuromuscular function recovers spontaneously — the mainstay of management, since there is no direct reversal agent for succinylcholine.
  • Monitor neuromuscular function (peripheral nerve stimulator/train-of-four) to confirm recovery before extubation.
  • Fresh frozen plasma or purified plasma cholinesterase can be given to supply functional enzyme in confirmed severe cases, though ventilatory support until spontaneous recovery is the standard approach.
  • Identify and document the patient’s pseudocholinesterase status/genotype for future anaesthetic planning, and counsel the patient and family (autosomal recessive inheritance, relevance for relatives).

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