Effectiveness of Sub-Paralyzing Atracurium Doses in Preventing Etomidate-Induced Myoclonus Dushyant Chordia

Abstract

Etomidate is widely used for induction of anesthesia due to its favorable pharmacokinetic properties. However, one of its side effects is myoclonus, which can cause discomfort and complicate the induction process. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of sub-paralyzing doses of atracurium in preventing etomidate-induced myoclonus. In this study, 120 patients undergoing elective surgeries were divided into two groups: the etomidate-only group and the etomidate + atracurium group. Myoclonus occurrence was assessed during the first minute following etomidate administration, and the severity was graded. The results revealed that sub-paralyzing doses of atracurium significantly reduced the incidence and severity of etomidate-induced myoclonus. The etomidate + atracurium group showed a 40% reduction in the incidence of myoclonus compared to the etomidate-only group. These findings suggest that atracurium may be a simple and effective adjunct to reduce myoclonus induced by etomidate without compromising its anesthetic properties.

Keywords: etomidate, atracurium, myoclonus, sub-paralyzing doses, anesthesia, induction, myoclonus prevention.