mivacurium and Hypokalemia

A 35-year-old woman with known familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis received general anaesthesia for reduction of bilateral breast hyperplasia. Uncomplicated general anaesthesia was performed using a propofol target-controlled infusion, remifentanil infusion and bolus doses of mivacurium with neuromuscular function monitoring. Plasma potassium concentrations were controlled intermittently in the peri-operative period and supplemented to achieve normokalaemia. Despite continuous substitution, an episode of low plasma potassium concentration occurred during the recovery period; this was without any clinical signs of muscle paralysis or respiratory distress.

Topics: Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthesia, General; Anesthesia, Intravenous; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Female; Humans; Hypokalemia; Isoquinolines; Mivacurium; Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; Paralyses, Familial Periodic; Piperidines; Propofol; Remifentanil