OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF SUCCINYLCHOLINE-INDUCED FASCICULATIONS AND THE EFFECT OF PRETREATMENT WITH PANCURONIUM OR GALLAMINE

The correlation between visible fasciculations and fasciculation counts may be considered moderate, probably because the fasciculations can vary in frequency and amplitude in the different patients. The difference between visible and electronically measured fasciculations will be most marked when the fasciculations are of hardly visible low amplitude and high frequency. The high sensitivity is the advantage of the strain-gauge system. In the present study the system supports a well-known clinical fact. Because of its sensitivity, the method offers possibilities in comparative and basic studies. The method of objective fasciculation counting may be used in assessing the effects of other drugs that interact with succinylcholine-induced fasciculations. The strain-gauge technique provides sensitive, objective information about fasciculations induced by succinylcholine. The method confirms that pretreatment with pancuronium or gallamine has a uniform and significantly attenuating effect on such fasciculations.