Isoflurane inhibits muscle fasciculations caused by succinylcholine in children.

The incidence and intensity of muscle fasciculations as well as the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias following succinylcholine were evaluated in 36 premedicated children (1.0-5.7 years) after intravenous induction with thiopentone or after inhalation induction with isoflurane (3.75 vol-% in 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen). The study was randomized. In the thiopentone group, fasciculations were seen in all children and in the isoflurane group in 5 of 18 children (P < 0.001). The median of the duration of fasciculations was 15 s with a minimum of 5 s and maximum of 36 s (1st quartile 9 s and 3rd quartile 20 s) in the thiopentone group and 0 (0-15) s with a 1st quartile of 0 and a 3rd quartile of 3 s in the isoflurane group (P < 0.001). No cardiac arrhythmias were noted in either group. In conclusion, isoflurane in nitrous oxide inhibits succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculations in children.