A Comparison of the Effect of Propofol or Thiopentone on the Incidence and Severity of Suxamethonium-Induced Myalgia

Abstract

We conducted a prospective, randomised single-blind study in 48 adult women undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery to assess the incidence of suxamethonium-induced myalgia. Anaesthesia was induced with either thiopentone or propofol. All other aspects of clinical care were standardised between the groups. The propofol group had a significantly lower incidence of suxamethonium myalgia (19%) compared with the thiopentone group (63%) (P <0.05). The mechanism of this effect is not understood.