Cardiac arrest due to succinylcholine-induced hyperkalemia in a patient with wound botulism

• Published in: Journal of clinical anesthesia Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 80 - 82
• Main Authors: Chakravarty, Eliza F, Kirsch, Carl M, Jensen, William A, Kagawa, Frank T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-02-2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; black tar; Botulism - complications; Cardiac arrest; denervation hypersensitivity; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Heart Arrest - chemically induced; heroin; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Hyperkalemia - chemically induced; Male; Medical sciences; Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents - adverse effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; succinylcholine; Succinylcholine - adverse effects; Tachycardia - chemically induced; Toxicity: cardiovascular system; Ventricular Fibrillation - chemically induced; wound botulism; Wound Infection - complications; denervation hypersensitivity; wound botulism; heroin; succinylcholine; black tar; Cardiac arrest; Human; Drug addiction; Hydroelectrolytic balance disorder; Cardiocirculatory arrest; Toxicity; Suxamethonium chloride; Cardiovascular disease; Inorganic element; Infection; Depolarisant myorelaxant; Case study; Hyperkaliemia; Metabolic disorder; Botulism; Bacteriosis; Subcutaneous administration; Intubation; Trachea; Neuromuscular blocking; Heroin
• ISSN: 0952-8180; 1873-4529
• DOI: 10.1016/S0952-8180(99)00136-1

Cardiac arrest due to hyperkalemia is a known complication of succinylcholine administration in patients with neuromuscular disease, extensive burns, and prolonged immobility. We report a case of hyperkalemic cardiac arrest following the administration of succinylcholine in a patient suffering from wound botulism.