Spontaneous respiration recovery

Paralysis is preceded by muscular fasciculation, and this may be the cause of the muscle pain experienced commonly after its use. The pain may last 1-3 days and can be minimised by preceding the suxamethonium with a small dose of a competitive blocking agent. Suxamethonium is the neuromuscular blocker with the most rapid onset and the shortest duration of action. Tracheal intubation is possible in less than 60 seconds and total paralysis lasts up to 4 min with 50% recovery in about 10 min (t / for effect). It is particularly indicated for rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia in patients who are at risk of aspiration — the ability to secure the airway rapidly with a tracheal tube is of the utmost importance. If intubation proves impossible, recovery from suxamethonium and resumption of spontaneous respiration is relatively rapid. Unfortunately, if it is impossible to ventilate the paralysed patient s lungs, recovery may not be rapid enough to prevent the onset of hypoxia. 

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