Question

The patient in the case presented here was not facing anyemergent or imminently life-threatening problems, so skeletal muscle paralysis and intubation were relatively straightforward procedures, not at all rushed. Now assume, hypothetically, that emergency intubation was required, and succinylcholine (SuCh) was used because of its very rapid onset of action. Assume further that slow infusion of SuCh was used to maintain paralysis throughout the procedure; blood levels of the drug were kept well in the therapeutic range; no curare-like (nondepolarizing) blocker was used; and the patient had no genetic or other factors that would affect the drug's pharmacokinetics or action. When the surgery is done, what drug would be given to reverse succinylcholine's effects?

a. Atropine
b. Bethanechol
c. Neostigmine
d. Physostigmine
e. Nothing

Answer 1

The drug given to reverse the effects of succinylcholine in emergency intubation is Neostigmine.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of emergency intubation where succinylcholine (SuCh) is used, the drug given to reverse its effects is Neostigmine. Neostigmine is a drug that acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor, meaning that it prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. By blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, Neostigmine helps restore muscle function and reverses the effects of succinylcholine.