[Cardiocirculatory arrest due to hyperkalaemia following i.v. Imbretil for muscular relaxation (author's transl)].

The muscle relaxant Imbretil was investigated in 10 patients for initiating anaesthesia and for a prolonged artificial ventilation. In 50% of the patients a rather quick and drastic rise of the serum potassium-level was found. A cardiac arrest occurred in one patient due to a hyperkalaemia but fortunately was reversible. Consequently we do not use Imbretil in our Hospital anymore. Today better and less dangerous drugs are available instead--Imbretil must be placed as an obsolete drug.