Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Jun 1996
Case Reports[Fatal arrhythmia following administration of suxamethonium in a postpartum woman subsequently found to have dystrophia myotonica].
A 28-year-old woman died of irreversible ventricular fibrillation after administration of succinylcholine because of post partum curettage. Afterwards it became known she had undiagnosed myotonic dystrophy. ⋯ Succinylcholine given to patients with myotonic dystrophy may lead to life threatening hyperkalaemia and cardiac arrest. Therapy should be aimed at immediate lowering of serum K+ concentration with calcium, sodium bicarbonate and hyperventilation.