Suxamethonium-induced muscle pains are not related to cholinesterase activity.

We have investigated the possibility of using the pre-operative measurement of cholinesterase activity to predict the postoperative development of myalgia following the administration of suxamethonium. Seventy-seven patients presenting for elective extraction of wisdom teeth were entered in the study. All patients received a standard anaesthetic regimen, including suxamethonium to facilitate tracheal intubation, and standardised postoperative analgesia. Myalgia was assessed postoperatively and no correlation between muscle pains and cholinesterase activity was found.