A 35-year-old woman undergoes diagnostic laparoscopy under general anesthesia for evaluation of chronic pelvic pain. The patient receives succinylcholine and propofol prior to the procedure. The intraoperative course is uneventful. Postoperatively, the patient requires prolonged intubation. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's postoperative complications?

Question

A 35-year-old woman undergoes diagnostic laparoscopy under general anesthesia for evaluation of chronic pelvic pain. The patient receives succinylcholine and propofol prior to the procedure.  The intraoperative course is uneventful. Postoperatively, the patient requires prolonged intubation. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's postoperative complications?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Succinylcholine has a rapid onset of action and is typically degraded completely in 5-10 minutes by pseudocholinesterase. Some individuals are homozygous for an atypical pseudocholinesterase, which breaks down succinylcholine more slowly. In these patients, paralysis can last for hours and they must be maintained on mechanical ventilation until spontaneous respirations resumes.

A 35-Year-Old Woman Undergoes Diagnostic Laparoscopy Under General Anesthesia for Evaluation