Succinylcholine in electroshock treatment

Kinross-Wright, Vernon

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X1953000400002

Abstract

Electroshock treatment not infrequently leads to vertebral fractures and other complications. Where cardiovascular or skeletal disease exists, its use though desirable, may be fraught with danger. The search for muscle relaxants to dampen the violence of the electrical convulsion has culminated in Succinylcholine. Injected intravenously as the chloride it produces a rapid paralysis of the musculature. Complete and permanent recovery occurs within a few minutes because of the quick destruction of the drug by cholinesterase. A series of 416 treatments in 46 patients is reported. Somatic pathology in 8 of these electroshock would have been contraindicated. With Succinylcholine all patients made an eventful recovery. The discomfort of Succinylcholine is slight and not sufficient to require the use of intravenous anesthesia. One death is reported but evidence indicates that this may not be attributed to Succinylcholine. Succinylcholine has no disadvantageous side-effects. Many times the clinically effective dose has been administered without prolonged apnea. In conclusion this study indicates that Succinylcholine is a very safe, simple means of improving and widening the application of the technique of electroshock.

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, U.S.A

SUMMARY

Electroshock treatment not infrequently leads to vertebral fractures and other complications. Where cardiovascular or skeletal disease exists, its use though desirable, may be fraught with danger.

The search for muscle relaxants to dampen the violence of the electrical convulsion has culminated in Succinylcholine. Injected intravenously as the chloride it produces a rapid paralysis of the musculature. Complete and permanent recovery occurs within a few minutes because of the quick destruction of the drug by cholinesterase.

A series of 416 treatments in 46 patients is reported. Somatic pathology in 8 of these electroshock would have been contraindicated. With Succinylcholine all patients made an eventful recovery. The discomfort of Succinylcholine is slight and not sufficient to require the use of intravenous anesthesia. One death is reported but evidence indicates that this may not be attributed to Succinylcholine.

Succinylcholine has no disadvantageous side-effects. Many times the clinically effective dose has been administered without prolonged apnea.

In conclusion this study indicates that Succinylcholine is a very safe, simple means of improving and widening the application of the technique of electroshock.

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21. Holmberg, G. a. Thesleff, S. - Ibid., 46:1567, 1951.

Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston 25, Texas, U.S.A.

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