Session Key Points

  • Succinylcholine is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent used for rapid sequence induction
  • Succinylcholine has a very rapid onset of action and short duration of blockade
  • Vecuronium and atracurium are the two most commonly-used non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents
  • The duration of neuromuscular blockade with vecuronium and atracurium is longer than for succinylcholine
  • Succinylcholine is metabolized in the plasma by plasma pseudocholinesterase, an enzyme with pharmacogenetic variants
  • There are more significant adverse effects associated with the use of succinylcholine than with atracurium and vecuronium
  • Neuromuscular blockade must be monitored using a nerve stimulator
  • Non-depolarizing NMBs show fade, which is not present with succinylcholine