What is the defasiculating dose of Succinylcholine?

The defasiculating dose of Succinylcholine is typically 1/10 of the total dose. This practice is relevant in specific contexts, primarily to mitigate muscle fasciculations that occur with the administration of this neuromuscular blocker. The fasciculations can lead to increased postoperative pain and muscle soreness, and administering a smaller dose prior to the full neuromuscular blocking dose can help reduce this effect.

In situations where rapid muscle relaxation is necessary, such as in rapid sequence intubation or certain surgical procedures, practitioners may choose to administer this smaller defasiculating dose to lessen the side effects while still achieving effective neuromuscular blockade with the subsequent larger dose. Thus, recognizing the appropriate defasiculating dose is critical for optimal patient outcomes and minimizes discomfort during procedures requiring neuromuscular blockade.