Succinylcholine: A Drug to Avoid in Bariatric Surgery

Succinylcholine is a paralytic agent regularly utilized in anesthesia. There are numerous adverse effects of succinylcholine ranging from mild to fatal; one such effect is succinylcholine myalgia. We report the case of a 34-year-old woman who received succinylcholine while undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and later developed succinylcholine myalgia leading to a prolonged hospital stay and subsequent pneumonia. In the presence of suitable alternative paralytic agents, succinylcholine should be avoided in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The use of a designated anesthesia team familiar with bariatric operations can help maximize peri-operative management and minimize complications.