Posted by Chris A. on March 18, 2000, at 15:55:56
In reply to Anesthesia for ECT / Muscle Relaxants / Curare, posted by Scott L. Schofield on March 18, 2000, at 13:55:01
Scott,
Thanks - I appreciate the discussion. It encourages my brain cells to wake up. Donzepil does greatly inhibit the metaboloism of succinylcholine. Dr. Steven Dubovsky gave my local docs the suggestion of 1)using curare as the muscle relaxant or 2), discontinuing the Aricept long enough prior to the next ECT treatment to allow the plasma pseudocholinesterase activity to go back to normal. I did hear one of the anesthetists say they would have to "look it up," referring to using the curare in this situation, which makes me think it's not within their comfort zone. Perhaps they're looking for more of a muscle relaxant effect than atropine affords - I am extremely fine-boned and the density is not up to par. If my pDoc remembers that he has a good memory.I am feeling rather lame-brained right now and definitely didn't attend closely enough to biosynthesis and metabolism in school. We didn't have enough pharmacology. I won't tell you how long it's been since I worked at a paying job in nursing, either! I'll rehash this again at 6:00 a.m. Monday with my docs - great hour, great place (the recovery room).
Thanks,
Chris A.
poster:Chris A.
thread:27363
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000312/msgs/27491.html