[Effect of succinylcholine on serum levels of potassium in patients treated for intracranial aneurysm].

A prospective study was carried out on 10 patients who were submitted to intracranial aneurysm clipping and who had bled some days before the operation. All patients received a precurarization dose of pancuronium (0.01 mg/kg) and lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) during the preinduction and succinylcholine (1 mg/kg) to facilitate orotracheal intubation. The operation took place between the days 5 and 27 following the subarachnoid hemorrhage. Basal potassium plasma levels were determined at 1, 3, 5 and 10 minutes after succinylcholine had been administered. The levels (media +/- SD), expressed in mEq/l, were: basal 3.77 +/- 0.31; at first minute 3.64 +/- 0.38: 3 minutes 3.69 +/- 0.35; 5 minutes 3.78 +/- 0.31, and 10 minutes 3.82 +/- 0.39. Using the analysis of variance, no significant differences (p = 0.11) were observed among the average levels of potassium in the intervals of time studied. There is no significant correlations either between the potassium figures and the time elapsed since the subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred.