Continuous suxamethonium infusion for microlaryngeal surgery.

The suxamethonium infusion requirements to maintain a 100% neuromuscular block in patients undergoing microlaryngeal surgery were determined. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane and the neuromuscular block monitored with a peripheral nerve stimulator delivering train-of-four stimuli. Suxamethonium requirements varied directly with time in a linear manner and the onset and recovery time of the block increased with time. No difficulties in recovery were observed when the duration of infusion was less than l h, even when the nature of the block had altered to the non-depolarizing type. A good correlation was observed between neuromuscular block as indicated by peripheral nerve stimulation and laryngeal muscle paralysis.