Succinylcholine induced hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest death related to an EEG study

J Clin Neurophysiol. 1999 Jan;16(1):46-50. doi: 10.1097/00004691-199901000-00004.

Abstract

Changes in EEGs during cardiac arrest have been described in detail by many authors; however, mortality because of an EEG has never been reported. The authors report the case of a patient who developed cardiac arrest causally related to administration of succinylcholine for reduction of excessive amounts of myogenic artifact during an EEG. This case indicates the need for caution when doing an EEG study in an intensive care unit setting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Electroencephalography*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart Arrest / diagnosis
  • Heart Arrest / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / chemically induced*
  • Hyperkalemia / complications*
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / adverse effects*
  • Succinylcholine / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents
  • Succinylcholine