Suxamethonium Apnoea : The Forgotten Episode in Current Practice

57 Succinylcholine apnea is one of the known documented adverse events following suxamethonium use for securing the airway. Although the documented duration of action of the drug is 5 to 13 minutes, it may cause an apnea up to several hours in individuals with reduced pseudocholinesterase activity. It is metabolized in the bloodstream by the enzyme pseudocholinesterase (PChE), which is produced by the liver1. Patients with an abnormal PChE level are incapable of metabolizing suxamethonium, resulting in prolonged muscle paralysis2. The causes of suxamethonium apnea are either hereditary from an autosomal recessive disorder or acquired through various diseases and drugs.