THE USE OF TACRINE AND SUXAMETHONIUM IN ANAESTHESIA FOR CAESAREAN SECTION

Suxamethonium was combined with tacrine to obtain muscle relaxationin anaesthesia for Caesarean section in fifty patients. Themean total dose of suxamethonium used was 60 mg as against 400mg in thirty patients not given tacrine. The mean duration ofmuscle paralysis following suxamethonium 25 mg with tacrine20 mg was 14 minutes compared with 5.5 minutes after suxamethonium50 mg alone. Postoperative respiratory insufficiency of a milddegree occurred in one patient. Tacrine was found in specimensof urine from each of six neonates. Serious side effects inmother or child were not observed and this combination of drugswas thought worthy of further study for Caesarean section.