A 22-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 10 minutes after falling down a flight of stairs. An x-ray of the right wrist shows a distal radius fracture. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, succinylcholine was used for intubation, and anesthesia was maintained via propofol and fentanyl infusions. , and closed reduction of the fracture is performed. The patient has not had a return of neuromuscular function after several hours. His mother then discloses that she has also been "slow to wake up" from anesthesia. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this patient's prolonged paralysis?

Question

A 22-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 10 minutes after falling down a flight of stairs. An x-ray of the right wrist shows a distal radius fracture. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, succinylcholine was used for intubation, and anesthesia was maintained via propofol and fentanyl infusions. , and closed reduction of the fracture is performed. The patient has not had a return of neuromuscular function after several hours.  His mother then discloses that she has also been "slow to wake up" from anesthesia.  Which of the following is the most likely reason for this patient's prolonged paralysis?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Succinylcholine, a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, is rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma pseudocholinesterase.  Patients with pseudocholinesterase deficiency have prolonged neuromuscular paralysis after drug administration.

A 22-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department 10