Deck 12: Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Question 1

A 54-year-old man with coronary artery disease is scheduled to undergo surgical excision of a tumor from his sigmoid colon. His cardiologist's recommendations included ensuring that his heart rate stay below 80 beats per minute during the procedure. The following muscle relaxant should be AVOIDED:

A) Pancuronium
B) Vecuronium
C) Cisatracurium
D) Succinylcholine
E) Rocuronium

Answer 1

Pancuronium

Question 2

A 21-year-old man undergoing hernia repair receives succinylcholine before undergoing intubation and being anesthetized with sevoflurane, a halogenated volatile anesthetic agent. He suddenly becomes tachycardic, has an elevated temperature, develops muscle rigidity, his fraction of exhaled oxygen decreases, and his fraction of exhaled carbon dioxide increases. Which of the following skeletal muscle relaxants is most likely to reverse the symptoms he is experiencing?

A) Vecuronium
B) Baclofen
C) Cyclobenzaprine
D) Diazepam
E) Dantrolene

Answer 2

Dantrolene

Question 3

A 72-year-old woman in the intensive care unit has end-stage renal disease with a potassium level of 5.3 mEq/L and severely compromised hepatic function. She needs to undergo a debridement of a sacral decubitus ulcer. Which of the following would be the best skeletal muscle relaxant for use on this patient?

A) Pancuronium
B) Vecuronium
C) Cisatracurium
D) Succinylcholine
E) Rocuronium

Answer 3

Cisatracurium