Comparison of atracurium and methocarbamol for preventing succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculation: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Fasciculation is a minor adverse effect of succinylcholine and may be an unpleasant experience for patient. The aim of this study was to compare the use of atracurium and methocarbamol to decrease the occurrence and severity of succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculation. Fifty-nine adults with American Society of Anesthesiologists I or II hospitalized for elective surgery were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (n = 29) who received succinylcholine 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) intravenously followed by 0.2-0.5 mg/kg BW atracurium and patients in Group B (n= 29) who received succinylcholine 1 mg/kg BW intravenously followed by methocarbamol 0.2-0.5 mg/kg BW. Anesthesia was induced in all patients with thiopental sodium 3-5 mg/kg. Fasciculation was scored on a four-point (0-4) Likert scale. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic variables between two groups, whereas in Group A, 27 patients (93.1) suffered from mild fasciculation and two (6.9) from moderate fasciculation. In Group B, twenty patients (68.9) suffered from mild fasciculation, five (17.2) from moderate fasciculation, and four (13.9) from severe fasciculation. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Atracurium is more effective than methocarbamol in decreasing the occurrence and severity of succinylcholine-induced fasciculations. In addition, the use of methocarbamol before succinylcholine administration can decrease the incidence of severe fasciculation.