Enflurane inhibits muscle fasciculations caused by suxamethonium in children.

Eighty-three children with a mean age of 2.7 years were anaesthetized with either thiopental 5 mg/kg followed by suxamethonium 1.5 mg/kg i.v. or with enflurane 5 vol% in 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen via a face mask. In the enflurane group, venepuncture was performed when the children were unconscious, 1.8 +/- 0.05 (s.e.) min after the start of anaesthesia. After enflurane, suxamethonium 1, 1.5 or 2 mg/kg was administered i.v. for endotracheal intubation. The incidence and duration of muscle fasciculations after suxamethonium were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in the enflurane groups than in the thiopental group. The fasciculation index was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in the enflurane groups than in the thiopental group. In the enflurane groups, intubating conditions were better (P less than 0.05) in the children treated with suxamethonium 2 mg/kg than in those treated with suxamethonium 1 mg/kg.